First Junior sleepout at Hill Dickinson Stadium raises over £20,000

Hundreds of young Evertonians made history on Friday night (24 April) as they took part in Everton in the Community’s (EitC) first-ever Junior Sleepout at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The junior Blues spent a memorable night under the stars at Everton’s waterfront home while raising funds for the Club’s official charity.  

266 campers set up their sleeping bags on the concourse and learned more about the charity’s wide range of community programmes and services.

They were treated to a hearty breakfast in the morning – provided by Rapid Relief Team – while B&M and Tesco supplied a range of snacks.

In total, the committed young Toffees raised more than £20,000.

The funds will be channelled into Everton in the Community’s Home Is Where The Heart Is (HIWTHI) programme, which provides vital support to young people at risk of homelessness.

The project is one of more than 60 programmes and initiatives which support tens of thousands of individuals across the Liverpool City Region every year. 

The Junior Sleepout is the child-friendly version of the popular Stadium Sleepout, which will celebrate its landmark 10-year anniversary this October. 

Since its launch in 2016, the Stadium Sleepout has become a hallmark event for EitC supporters who have raised almost £500,000 and helped to transform the lives of hundreds of young people.

In attendance at the Junior Sleepout was Everton in the Community’s CEO, Sue Gregory. 

Reflecting on the event, she said:

“What a memorable night for Everton in the Community and the hundreds of young Blues who took part in the first Junior Sleepout at the new stadium.

“This October will welcome the 10th edition of our adult Sleepout and we are so excited to celebrate the milestone, but it was extra special to see young supporters come together and brave the cold night.

“We can’t thank them enough for raising more than £20,000 for our charity and for standing in solidarity with those at risk of homelessness.”

Registration for the 10^th Stadium Sleepout is now open. To sign up for the milestone event, click here.

Win a signed Micheal Keane shirt while supporting Everton in the Community here.

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