On Friday 28th January 21 sleepers braved the cold and slept rough to raise money for Sussex Central YMCA. The Sleep Easy event in Horsham took place in the courtyard of the beautiful St Johns Evangelist RC Church. Together the sleepers raised over £2000 with more money still coming in. 
Sleep Easy is a national event run by YMCA England all over the country. The aim of Sleep Easy is to raise money and awareness of youth homelessness. The money raised in Horsham will go towards Sussex Central YMCA’s work with children, young people and families.
A Sleep Easy participant Felicity Harrington said: “I find it hard to comprehend that my hamsters sleep in better conditions than homeless people. I don’t think people really understand what it means to be homeless. As a Christian I often think about putting my faith in to action. I think participating in Sleep Easy is a practical way to do something worth while and raise money for those who really need it.” 
Sleepers started arriving at 7pm with their duvets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles and the night was kicked off with a shelter building competition. Cardboard boxes for the shelters were provided by GB Liners Removal Company in Brighton.
Sussex Central YMCA Chief Executive David Standing officially opened the event by welcoming everybody and announced the winners of the shelter building competition the Cardboard Cut Outs, who received a chocolaty prize from Infinity Foods in Brighton.
Though it was a cold night the atmosphere at the event was great and participants stayed warm by playing games and chatting around the fire.
And finally, a big thank you goes to all the kind sponsors who provided the sleepers with food and drink: Wabi, Dominos Pizzas, Le Brunch, Starbucks, Waitrose, Greggs and Panino.
Andy Ide, Project Team Leader at Sussex Central YMCA’s Y Centre in Horsham comments on
his experience: “Though I couldn’t sleep all night I would definitely do it again next year because it is all for a good cause. I was quite surprised to hear some people around me snoring. It seemed like they were having the best nights sleep ever.”
