YMCA Black Country Group rallied over 100 people to sleep rough in freezing temperatures this weekend who have so far raised over £5,500 for the local charity, in order to support homeless young people across the Black Country.

The YMCA's NightStop service provides emergency accommodation to homeless young people who need somewhere to stay for a couple of nights until something more permenant is arranged for them

Rachael and Kenny were approved as Emergency Nightstop Hosts for YMCA Black Country Group’s Open Door Scheme late last year and have just had their 4th placement. Rachael has given an insight into what being a NightStop host means to her.

Have you got room at your inn?

Could you extend hospitality to someone in need this winter? A local charity is currently calling out for caring ‘hosts’ across the Black Country who can let a young person stay in their spare room.

The YMCA Open Door Nightstop scheme provides emergency accommodation for homeless 16 - 17 year olds; these young people have often been forced out of their home and onto the streets.

It's that time of year where the cardboard boxes and sleeping bags are piling up at the YMCA - it's Sleep Easy time!

What is it?

Each night, YMCAs up and down the country provide rooms for around 7,000 young people who don’t have anywhere else to sleep. Sleep Easy is a national YMCA campaign to raise awareness of youth homelessness across the UK; participants are sponsored to spend one night sleeping in a cardboard box, to simulate sleeping rough which many young people are forced to do every night. Don’t worry, there’ll be hot drinks available through the night and you’re allowed to bring a sleeping bag and other means of keeping warm.

We would like to encourage you to invite friends, family and anyone else you might know to take part too – the more the merrier!