Salisbury: Sleep Out next to Magna Carta for homeless charity

Homeless charity Alabaré is looking for people to take part in its annual sponsored Sleep Out at Salisbury Cathedral. This year’s Sleep Out will take place overnight on Friday, 13 March.

Every year volunteers have braved the elements and spent the night on the floor of the Cathedral cloisters to raise money towards the Alabaré Place Drop In Centre in Salisbury. This year will be particularly special thanks to the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta celebrations and exhibition at the Cathedral. Sleepers will be able to say that they slept close to the “finest preserved of the four surviving original 1215 documents” in this most significant of years.

With this added incentive, Alabaré are hoping even more people will dust off their sleeping bags to show their support for homeless and vulnerable people in Wiltshire.

This Saturday, 14 February, the Alabaré team will be in The Old George Mall from 10am – 3pm, where people can find out more and sign up for the Sleep Out.

Local MP John Glen has already confirmed his spot at the Cathedral for the 2015 event. Another Alabaré supporter, Paul Taylor, has told us why he’s already signed up.....

"Homelessness is a problem from which too many avert their gaze but the problem is real and it's happening in your city. Without a home you have no effective identity, little chance of a job, problems accessing social and medical services and loss of self esteem. When you don't have a home to go to where can you find comfort and safety?"

There’s still time left to sign up and join them in making a difference. For more information or to book your place visit: www.alabare.co.uk/event/alabar%C3%A9-salisbury-sleep-out-2015 or please contact Heather Hitchins on 01722 322882.

The money raised through the 2015 Salisbury Sleep Out will help support people using the Alabaré Place Drop In Centre. The centre provide a safe and welcoming daytime shelter to people who are homeless, facing homelessness or are living in unsuitable or unstable accommodation.  They offer hot food and drink, showers, laundry facilities, a clothing bank and advice and guidance on a range of issues including housing, benefits and health.

Additional Alabaré Sleep Outs are being held on the same date in Trowbridge and Andover. To find out more about these events and the work Alabaré does to prevent homelessness across the UK visit: www.alabare.co.uk.

If you are unable to take part in this year’s Sleep Outs, you can still show your support by visiting www.my.give.net/sleepout2015 to sponsor the event. You can also follow @AlabareUK on Twitter .

Alabaré would like to thank Reeves the Baker and Signs in Motion Ltd for their kind support of the 2015 Alabare Salisbury Sleep Out.