PRESS RELEASE: Doorway’s #SleepOut event: Sat 5th Feb 2022
The next biennial Doorway SleepOut will be held on Saturday 5th February 2022 from 7pm as a ‘satellite’ event; you can join us in the Bath Road car park, or you can do it at your own venue, it’s up to you. The SleepOut is a really important date in Doorway’s calendar – it not only raises money for the drop-in services we provide but also raises local awareness about our work and offers a brief insight into what it’s like to have to sleep rough, with minimal protection from the elements.
You will be sleeping outside in February, so please be prepared for a long night in potentially cold and/or wet conditions. In previous years many people have used cardboard boxes, or bivouacs to make themselves more comfortable, and some sleep under tarpaulins or in just a sleeping bag with something waterproof over them. If you’re with us in the car park you won’t be allowed a tent!
Registration
If you plan to do the SleepOut with us in the Bath Road car park it’s important that you complete and return a registration form before the night so we know how many sleepers to expect, and can keep
everyone safe. Children aged 10 and older are welcome to join us, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult and have completed a separate registration form. If you do it at your own place please make sure that
Sponsorship
This is of course a sponsored event, and the best way to collect sponsorship money is through our JustGiving page which you can find by going to the JustGiving website and searching for Doorway Wiltshire Ltd’s campaign or SleepOut event page. Donating this way automatically includes Gift Aid which makes a real difference to the total amount raised. You may collect donations in other ways if you prefer, including cash or another app such as Localgiving or Paypal or via Facebook.
Facilities
If you’re joining us in the Bath Road car park there will be toilets available all night, and hot drinks and snacks in the evening, and in the morning from 6am a breakfast butty. The Citadel will be open all night for anyone who needs to go inside – its back doors open onto the car park.
What you will need
Your clothing should be warm and waterproof – several thin layers of clothing are better than one thick layer. A woolly hat, warm footwear, gloves and a sleeping bag are essentials. It is highly recommended that you use a large cardboard box as protection from the wind, preferably large enough to actually sleep inside. A groundsheet and/or rollmat would be useful, and an extra blanket.
If you’re sleeping out in your own garden you can pitch a tent, if you’re with us then no tents allowed!
Safety measures at the Bath Road car park
There will be volunteer marshalls, including first aid trained volunteers awake through the night to ensure everyone’s kept safe. The area of the car park we’re in will be cordoned off.
Finally, participants take part in the SleepOut at their own risk
Doorway will not be held responsible for loss or damage to personal effects, for personal accidents, for injury or loss to third parties.
For more information contact Doorway at info@doorwayproject.org.uk or call 01249 44538