Nightsafe have joined forces with Blackburn Rovers to host the ‘The Big Sleep Out 2022’ at Ewood Park.

The Big Sleep Out aims to raise awareness and highlight the important issues surrounding homelessness in Blackburn, and participants will spend one night sleeping on the concourse and the stand of the Darwen End at Ewood.

Supporters, community organisations and local businesses are all encouraged to participate and experience the difficulties homeless people go through each night.

The Darwen End concourse will be open from 7pm on Friday, November 18, until 7am on Saturday 19.

Participants must be aged over 18 to take part and funds raised will be split between Nightsafe and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust. 

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust will use the funds raised to support other vulnerable children and young people across the borough.

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust chief executive, Gary Robinson, said: “We are pleased to be once again working with Nightsafe to raise awareness for such an important issue effecting the Blackburn area.

“We hosted the same type of event in 2018 and it was a great success. We raised a substantial amount of money for important causes alongside providing an opportunity for people to see first-hand the struggles many people are going through within our community daily by being homeless.

“I’d like to thank Nightsafe for playing a key role in helping arrange ‘The Big Sleep 2022’, and I hope we have a high attendance at Ewood Park.”

Jan Larkin, chief executive at Nightsafe, said: “We are so very grateful to Gary and everyone at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust for supporting us once again with a sleep out -  ‘The Big Sleep 2022’.

“Nightsafe has been supporting young people experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless for over 32 years and it’s fair to say that year on year life seems to be becoming more and more difficult for everyone.

"Community support has kept Nightsafe going and it’s both humbling and such amazing kindness that Blackburn Rovers Community Trust is supporting us again.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you in advance to everyone for either sleeping out with us or donating, every penny will make a difference. Monies raised will go towards Nightsafe ‘doing up’ our four bed Witton Housing Project. It’s in dire need of some serious TLC, never once had a bed empty in over 27 years!

“Please come and sleep out with us – let’s make it ‘The Big Sleep Out 2022’one to remember! Come be a #NightsafeHero we’ll love you for it!”

To sign up for The Big Sleep Out 2022, click here.