Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s charity, the Edgbaston Foundation, has launched a stadium sleepout in aid of St Basils, and several other charities, to help address homelessness in Birmingham and Warwickshire.
Taking place at Edgbaston on Thursday 27 April, Warwickshire players and coaches launched the Edgbaston Sleepout at a special visit to St Basils’ Mildenhall House in Solihull, which provides accommodation and support services to young men and women from the Solihull area.
Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We’re increasingly aware of the local concerns about homelessness, with there being seven times more people sleeping rough in Birmingham than there was seven years ago.
“As a local sporting organisation that’s embedded within our local community, we’re committed to making a difference and hope to raise £50,000 through the Edgbaston Sleepout, which will help the great work of St Basils and other charities in providing support to people at risk of homelessness.”
The sad reality is that homelessness is on the rise in our city. The money raised from this event will make a positive impact on the lives of people who don’t have a home by empowering them to have a better and brighter future.
Barrie Hodge, St Basils
Warwickshire CCC Sport Director and former England player and coach Ashley Giles has already thrown his support behind the campaign by becoming one of the first names to sign-up to the Edgbaston Sleepout, along with the Bishop of Birmingham, The Right Reverend David Urquhart.
The Edgbaston Foundation is recruiting 70 fundraisers to take part in the stadium sleepout on 27 April, with all participants being asked to commit to raising a minimum of £700.
As part of the Sleepout, all participants will be given a full tour of Edgbaston, join Ashley and other sleepers for a nets practice in the indoor cricket centre before a team meal and sleepout in the iconic cricket stadium.
Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Communications at St Basils, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Edgbaston Foundation on the Edgbaston Sleepout.
“The sad reality is that homelessness is on the rise in our city. The money raised from this event will make a positive impact on the lives of people who don’t have a home by empowering them to have a better and brighter future.”
Take Part in the Edgbaston Sleepout
For more information and to take part in the Edgbaston Sleepout, please email foundation@edgbaston.com.
