Simulated Big Rebel Sleep Out on Saturday, 24 April!

FOCUS Ireland have urged all Corkonians to support their SIMULATED Big Rebel Sleep Out organised in association with Cork City FC. The 2021 event will repeat the SIMULATED format of last year with all participants staging their sleep outs in the safety and security of their own homes, gardens or couches in light of the current health restrictions and protocols resulting from the Covid-19 emergency. 2020 was the Big Rebel Sleep Outs most successful year to date having 195 sign ups with families and individuals all over Cork City and county participating on the night. Needless to say we could not have achieved this without wonderful support. By participating in Big Rebel Sleep Out you are challenging homelessness and changing lives. Focus Ireland has teamed up with Cork City FC, and we are calling on Corkonians to sign up to take part in the simulated BIG REBEL SLEEP OUT on Saturday, 24th April. Participants may choose to sleep in their gardens or couch surf (representing many of the ‘hidden homeless’) for one night to help raise vital funds to help tackle homelessness in Cork, as well as abiding by public health and social-distancing measures. FOCUS Ireland works with people in Cork who are homeless or in danger of losing their homes across the county of Cork and throughout Ireland. Set for Saturday 24th April 2021, this fundraising initiative is an opportunity for anyone interested in solving HOMELESSNESS here in Cork to participate in this awareness building and income creating event. As the HOMELESS crisis deepens both locally and nationally, this is a real call to action for everyone to make a difference. Speaking after the launch, Ger Spillane, Regional Manager of Focus Ireland stated “Focus Ireland believes that our prevention and sustained exit strategies are the way of the future if we are to make long-term progress. With over 8,313 men, women and children experiencing homelessness across Ireland, including 402 adults in Cork City and County, Focus Ireland needs your support”. Éanna Buckley, Cork City FC Operations Manager added “We are very happy to support this event. Since we first partnered with Focus Ireland on the Big Rebel Sleep Out in 2018, the event has grown year on year, creating awareness and raising vital funds. We would urge the people of Cork, it’s men, women and children to participate, and help Focus Ireland to challenge homelessness. As a community club, we believe it is imperative to promote and assist worthy causes, and we are delighted to again to be working with Focus Ireland on what is a very important issue. We would urge all of our supporters to support this event and the ongoing excellent work being done by Focus Ireland.” Speaking of the event, Dick White of Focus Ireland concluded “€5 of every €10 we spend has to be generated from the community and business sectors and without this support we would be unable to deliver our services here in Cork. 87 cent of every €1 generated goes to our frontline services. That is why your support and participation in Big Rebel Sleep Out is vital.” Participants will receive support materials and advice to help with fundraising in the lead up to the event and, on the night, there will be a strong online presence to engage all participants. The SIMULATED Big Rebel Sleep Out will now take place in the safety and security of your own home or garden, with a significant online presence through our Every Day Hero funding pages, messages and videos online on the night of the 24th April across all channels operated by Focus Ireland, Cork City FC and Red FM. Be a REBEL, Sleep Out for FOCUS IRELAND. If you would like to take part and make a difference please contact Dick White on 086 8223690 or dick.white@focusireland.ie