Next Saturday night, volunteers from Coffee4Craig will be sleeping out at the AJ Bell Stadium to raise much needed funds for the organisation's work in helping the homeless, and to raise awareness of the growing number of people sleeping rough on our streets.
Totally non-judgemental, Coffee4Craig began in January 2014, following the death of its co-founder's brother on the streets of Cardiff. It has since run pop-up shops and street kitchens for the homeless, food parcels for those who need them and, last Christmas, an emergency shelter at its HQ at Lancaster House, near Salford Royal Hospital.
Others have helped by volunteering their skills to the organisation, while Black Grape even donated proceeds from their re-union gig. However, with sanctions, Bedroom Tax, benefit cuts and more, homelessness is growing and the need for services like those Coffee4Craig offers is growing.
"It's not a long term solution" explains Coffee4Craig's Fie Lancaster "I think what we do is support someone in an immediate crisis, and then signpost them to longer term solutions like benefit advice, debt solutions, citizens advice, all these types of people who can work with them. And what we then do is raise awareness of it...We don't do it quietly. Like it or not we are essentially a protest because every single charity is a protest if they are run properly."
To run properly, Coffee4Craig also needs money and so the idea of Salford Sleeps Rough was born as a unique fundraiser.
"A brave group of volunteers have put themselves forward to spend one full night with no home comforts and a limited food supply, sleeping rough" says Rachel from Coffee4Craig "It's all in aid of a good cause and to help raise the essential funds we need to keep this life saving service up and running."
To show support, everyone is invited to spend a few hours at the event. There will be food and hot drinks served from 7pm to 9pm, with some live music too...
But, most of all, Coffee4Craig would like people to donate direct via its FundRazr page – click here
Salford Sleeps Rough
Saturday 27th June from 7pm
AJ Bell Stadium
Anyone who would like to take part in the sleep-out can email fundraiser.coffee4craig@gmail.com
For a more detailed article on the work of Coffee4Craig see the Salford Star print issue page 37 – click here
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