Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout aims to end homelessness

Liverpool homeless charity and our iconic Cathedral join forces to help the homeless.

Recognising that many people want to help those they see sleeping on the streets or without a home, Liverpool Cathedral has joined forces with Liverpool’s leading homeless charity, The Whitechapel Centre, to create the Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout on Friday 6th April 2018.

The Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout is a fun and friendly event open to people of all ages. It is a rare opportunity to spend the night sleeping inside the country’s biggest cathedral and raise money for the local community at the same time. While it won’t be like being on the streets, both The Whitechapel Centre and the Cathedral hope it will help people understand how difficult it might be when you don’t have a place to go.

Ruth McCaughley, Fundraising Manager, The Whitechapel Centre, said: “The Whitechapel Centre’s vision is to see an end to homelessness, social exclusion and housing poverty in Liverpool. We can only do this by working in partnership with organisations like Liverpool Cathedral. There are many different complex reasons why someone can be homeless and we help people address these problems as well as finding suitable accommodation.

The Whitechapel Centre opens its doors every day of the year – supporting people to find suitable accommodation, managing their finances, building relationships with landlords, looking after their health and their home, plus linking with the local community so that every individual can reach their potential. The money raised from the Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout will help The Whitechapel Centre move closer to this vision.

Paul Smith, Liverpool Cathedral’s Director of Enterprise added: “Not only does our Cathedral dominate the city skyline, it is core to the city’s life. We welcome people from all backgrounds and our events are one of the ways we engage with the Liverpool-wide community and beyond.

We are very pleased to host this event which will provide vital funds for both ourselves and the The Whitechapel Centre. By raising money in innovative and thought-provoking ways we can continue to fund essential work and maintain our position in the life of the city.”

The two charities are particularly hoping to encourage children and young people to get involved. Ruth added: “We know that many children and young people are concerned about the rise in homelessness and rough sleeping in Liverpool and want to help. The Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout gives them the opportunity to experience the sense of vulnerability that you feel would feel when you’re not in your own bed, within the safety of the Cathedral.”

The Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout is on Friday 6th April at Liverpool Cathedral. It costs £5.00 per person to register and you’ll need to raise £50.00. All funds raised will be split equally between the two charities. Children are encouraged to take part but they’ll need to bring a responsible adult. For safeguarding purposes, a maximum of five children can accompany one adult for this Sleepout.

To register for the Liverpool Cathedral Sleepout, please visit www. liverpoolcathedralsleepout.org and follow #cathedralsleepoutliv on social media for updates.