Hill Dickinson Stadium, the state-of-the-art new home of Everton, will host the first annual Stadium Sleepout, and registration is now open for supporters to take part in Everton in the Community’s annual event.
The inaugural edition of the charity’s staple fundraising event at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, taking place on Friday 10 October, promises to be a landmark occasion, making it an opportunity not to be missed for hundreds of Blues.
Supporters will have the chance to soak up the spirit of the Club’s stunning new waterfront stadium, spending the night sleeping out in the East Stand while experiencing a snapshot of the struggles that people battling homelessness face.
A key date in EitC’s fundraising calendar, the charity is encouraging supporters to raise vital awareness and funds for its ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ (HIWTHI) programme which supports local young adults on the cusp of homelessness.
Following on from last year’s final Goodison Sleepout, which raised a record-breaking £150,000 for HIWTHI, EitC is challenging supporters to raise a minimum fundraising target of £150 and it costs just £30 to secure a spot.
The Sleepout has become synonymous with EitC supporters since it was first hosted almost a decade ago. Former Under-23s Manager, David Unsworth, spearheaded the fundraising campaign in 2015 in a bid to launch a dedicated programme to support local young people at risk of homelessness.
It saw David and his full Under-23s squad at the time take part in the first Sleepout event in 2016 and the subsequent editions that followed up until 2018, when enough funds were raised to purchase a four-bedroomed residential house which enabled EitC to set up HIWTHI that summer.
The HIWTHI residence not only provides at-risk young people with a safe space to stay but also offers them tailored support, from acquiring qualifications and employment to managing bills and helping to rebuild family relationships.
Since launching, hundreds of supporters who have taken part in Sleepouts over the years have raised thousands of pounds towards the sustainability and development of HIWTHI, which has helped almost 100 young people from falling into homelessness to date.
And EitC is asking supporters to help the charity continue to deliver the HIWTHI programme to those who need it most by taking part in a historic Sleepout at Everton’s new home on the banks of the River Mersey.
Sarah Hunter, EitC’s Fundraising Manager, said:
“We’re offering supporters the unique opportunity to take part in the first Stadium Sleepout at Hill Dickinson Stadium all whilst raising vital funds for such a worthy cause. It’s a night that any Evertonian wouldn’t want to miss, but it’s also a truly humbling experience that shines a spotlight on the struggles that those battling homelessness face.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such loyal supporters who have raised a significant amount of money for HIWTHI over the years. We look forward to hosting them, and hopefully many new faces, at what will be a memorable evening at Everton’s new waterfront stadium.”
Please note, supporters must be 18 years of age or over on the event date to take part and can sign up to the Stadium Sleepout here.
