Volunteers braved the cold night air to take part in a 12-hour sleep out in aid of homeless charity Nightsafe.
This year’s 'Big Sleep Out', the first since 2018 at the venue, was hosted by Blackburn Rovers and took place at the Darwen End between 7pm-7am on Friday night.
It was organised by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust who linked up with Nightsafe to help raise as much funds as possible for the charity.
Nearly £4,000 had already been donated by participants who turned up with a sleeping bag and slept on cardboard for the night.
The charity said a donation of £5 can provide two hot meals, whereas a £10 donation can provide someone in need with help, advice, and support at Nightsafe’s day centre, located in Blackburn.
Blackburn Rovers CEO and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust Chair of Trustees, Steve Waggott said: “There are people out there who are vulnerable, and they are sleeping outside and struggling.
“In 2018, the last time we did this, we hit an unbelievable target of £30,000 which benefitted all the programmes Blackburn Rovers Community Trust delivers to the most vulnerable within our community plus Nightsafe, who do a fantastic job across the area.”
Participants who turned up with a sleeping bag and slept on cardboard for the night.
Jan Larkin, CEO of Blackburn-based Nightsafe, said: “We are grateful for any support we receive whether it is participating on the night or a donation. We appreciate that this is a tough time for everyone but any support we receive, we would be very grateful.
“It makes a massive impact as it is about the community coming together and showing support for Nightsafe, but also raising awareness for the plight of young people in particular who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
“Support from Nightsafe can be as simple as just advice or guidance, but for a lot of young people, it might mean they need a roof over their head or a clean change of clothes. We offer different types of support.
“It’s an opportunity for people to come together and find out more about Nightsafe and what we do, and what it’s like to experience life on the street, it can be a very humbling experience to imagine what it’s like to be homeless.”
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust CEO Gary Robinson added: “The Big Sleep Out is an important date in our calendar to raise vital funds and awareness for a very sad ongoing issue in our borough and across the UK.
"The number of people that are homeless and do not have a safe place to sleep at night is alarming and by teaming up with Nightsafe, we want to play our part and help those in need.”
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