With 25 events spreading across 20 different UK regions and 40 companies taking part, over 500 people in the mortgage industry raised more than £100,000 in November for the End Youth Homelessness (EYH) charity by sleeping out on the UK’s streets.
Nick Connolly, managing director at End Youth Homelessness, said that this figure means assisting every young person who approached a local authority for help with homelessness last year.
He said: “Rob Jupp, CEO at Brightstar, said the mortgage industry would raise £100,000 to help End Youth Homelessness and it did. In fact, we surpassed our target with a total of £110,000 raised so far.
“We hope this brilliant effort will inspire other industries to commit to working collaboratively to End Youth Homelessness.”
Rob Jupp said that everyone who took part in Mortgage SleepOut and charity single Take Me Home has made a tangible difference to the lives of young people who are struggling to find their feet.
He added: “I have been overwhelmed by the success of these events and hope to be involved with more in the future.”
Rob Rees, corporate development manager at End Youth Homelessness, said that the charity has already started putting the fundraising to work.
He added: “Over £50,000 has gone directly to our member charities to fund their vital local services. These services support young people on every step of their journey from homelessness to independence.
“Our members give young people safe accommodation to call home, specialist health support and access to education, employment and training pathways.
“All of our member charities receiving funds will also be introduced to their local Mortgage Sleep Out businesses, forming strong local partnerships which can continue to support our young people in 2019 and beyond.
“As the remaining money was raised in areas where EYH doesn’t have a local presence, it will be invested into EYH’s core work. This will help us raise even more money for the sector, develop new national awareness raising campaigns and allow us to continue developing the first ever national services in the UK specifically aimed at homeless young people.”
