A number of Vision staff braved the cold weather for the ‘Sleep out for Blackburn’ event in order to raise money for the Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Nightsafe.
On Friday 23rd November, Josh Allen, Shaun Ferris, Matt Bowes, Fraser Donaldson and Corey Tate went down to Ewood Park Football Stadium with sleeping bags in tow to spend a night under the stars in a bid to raise money and awareness for homelessness.
Participants were each asked to raise money for the two charities which work locally in and around the Blackburn area and Vision, as a business, were tasked with raising £500.
Following a huge drive for donations, the business achieved a massive £1,090 and added to the total amount raised which was £25,000.
Over 140 people took part in the sleep out and all the volunteers were asked to bring sleeping bags, warm clothes and were given hot drinks vouchers for tea and coffee that they were able to use throughout the night.
Matt Bowes, one of the Vision team who slept out, said:”It was a really difficult night; the weather was bitterly cold and even wrapped up – you could still feel the chill on your face.
None of the team managed much sleep at all, however, it was for a fantastic cause and made all the more poignant with the news most woke up to on the Saturday that a local homeless man had died – merely a mile from Ewood Park.
It really brought home how serious of an issue homelessness is, not only around the country but right here in the town, and we were grateful to be able to support such a worthy cause.”