The event, which took place last Thursday (November 14), saw around 90 participants brave the cold with nothing but a sleeping bag and some cardboard, in order to raise awareness and vital funds for local homelessness charities St Petrocs and the Amber Foundation.
During the event, attendees were able to enjoy beautiful live music from Carclaze Voices, NoteAbility Community Choir and singer-songwriter Suzie Mac. They then heard inspiring talks from the charities, experts and Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path, The Wild Silence, and Landlines.
The money raised at this year’s Sleep Out comes at a critical time when the homelessness crisis in the South West is worsening, with the number of people accessing they charities’ services higher now than it has ever been.
Dan James, the Eden Project’s development director, said: "The Eden Project Sleep Out is a powerful reminder of the strength of community and the importance of coming together and supporting those less fortunate than ourselves. By braving the cold for one night, participants have raised more than £12,000, which will provide amazing support for St Petrocs and the Amber Foundation in their vital work.
In a time when the homelessness crisis is deepening, every donation makes a real difference in providing hope and a way forward for those in need."
Lois Wild, director of engagement at St Petrocs, said: “This year's Eden Project Sleep Out was an amazing event with participants choosing to take on the challenge of switching their bed at home for the cold hard ground outside. It was incredibly eye-opening listening to stories from people who had experienced homelessness and those working with people who are homeless in Devon and Cornwall, providing an amazing opportunity to raise awareness and to raise funds at the same time. We are so grateful to the Eden Project for providing this humbling experience.
“The funds raised this winter will support St Petrocs to provide emergency accommodation for people who have been pushed into homelessness and who would otherwise have to sleep outside. Due to the demand on our work at this moment in time, we have started the delivery of this emergency accommodation early. We are currently providing a number of people with a safe space through this emergency accommodation and we are working hard to secure longer term accommodation so people can move on into their own homes, therefore ending their experience of homelessness. A huge thank you to all those who took part in the event.”
Rebecca Fry, the Amber Foundation’s fundraising manager, said: “We had another extraordinary night at the Eden Project for Sleep Out 2024. The evening was so heart-warming with cooking, talks, music and more to engage the participants on the issue of homelessness. The temperature plummeted around midnight which meant an uncomfortable night for most of us, but nothing in comparison to what people who sleep rough have to endure every night. It certainly made a huge impression on participants and made people even more grateful for their warm beds.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Eden Project for hosting this special event and everyone who took part and donated. The money raised will make a huge difference to our work with young people in the west country this winter.”
For more than a decade the Eden Project has hosted an annual Sleep Out. As an educational charity, a key area of focus within the Eden Project’s mission is community, with an underlying belief that strong communities have an important part to play in overcoming global challenges.
Since the first Sleep Out held at the Eden Project in 2014, hundreds of people have taken part in the event and collectively raised more than £100,000 for homelessness charities.
For more information on the Eden Project Sleep Out and the charities the event supports see: www.edenproject.com.
