A message from Lorraine Toner, Head of Community Fundraising, Focus Ireland:

At Focus Ireland, we believe homelessness is one of the greatest social injustices of our time, but it’s not inevitable. It’s a problem we can solve. As Head of Community Fundraising, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible power of local action. When communities come together, change happens. Whether it’s a youth group, a sports club, or a few friends teaming up, the impact is real. Right now, the need has never been greater. Homelessness continues to rise at an alarming rate, with thousands of families and children now relying on emergency accommodation. But together, we can shine a light on this crisis and take action to end it. That’s why I’m calling on communities across Ireland to join us for Shine A Light. Your support sends a powerful message: that no one facing homelessness is invisible, and no one is alone.

I have taken part in the sleep out now for over 7 years and 2024 will be my 8th year supporting Focus Ireland! I feel it is a very worthwhile cause - anyone can find themselves in a position of losing their home. I was nearly part of this statistic and only for the help received from friends, I would have needed the help of Focus Ireland. Each year it brings me and my fellow supporters great joy to know we can give something to those who are less fortunate. It is a great event for the whole community to come together to help others and also to learn about the experiences of those who are experiencing homelessness. The team at Focus Ireland are super helpful when I was trying to organise the event whether it was on a street corner, King John's Castle, work rooftop or on the tennis courts, each event was supported fully from Maura and her team at Focus Ireland. Last year we engaged the whole Ennis Tennis and Badminton club from ages of 5 upwards ... and each participant learnt so much on how they can help those experiencing homelessness. 

A few years ago, I  was listening to the radio on my way to work when I heard that the Bord Gáis Energy Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light was upcoming. That night, as I tucked my daughter into bed, I thought about how fortunate we were to have a place to call home. The next day, I emailed colleagues in ATU to see if they would like to join me for the sleep out. The first year, the weather was on our side, and it was a clear, crisp night, albeit a little cold. When morning came around, I realised that while I now had the privilege of returning home, this was not the reality for those who experience homelessness. A full day looms ahead. I think this was the most stark. I went home, and my children were awake. I explained to them why we had done the sleep out and the plight of people experiencing homelessness, helping them better understand the challenges others face. The next year, my ATU colleagues joined me again. We were not as fortunate with the weather; the rain came down in buckets, bringing home the reality of sleeping out. By doing Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light, we not only helped raise much-needed funds, we also raised awareness amongst our university community and the wider community about the challenges others face. I would encourage anyone considering doing the sleepout to take part and play their part in supporting this worthy cause. 

“Last year, for the annual Focus Ireland Sleep Out, St Pauls Venture Scouts and four leaders decided to support a very worthwhile event and join them for the sleep out. The bonus for us, we got to sleep out in King John’s castle in Limerick. Such an historic location set an amazing experience. We rolled out our survival bags on the stone floors. We looked up at a clear sky filled with stars and tried to find inspiration from their speckles. Volunteers shared their own experiences of homelessness and their stories drew them all together on arrival. You could hear a pin drop when they spoke about what caused their poverty or struggles. Focus Ireland are an amazing charity that aims to hear those voices that go unheard, provide unconditional support for those without a home; ultimately break the cycle of homelessness. It was cold but we set up our make-shift composite for the night, all in great spirits. We had a lot of chat, reflection and even some singing as we drifted off to sleep under the stars and listening to the flow of the River Shannon below us. We woke early with an easy heart and warm bodies. Next year, Focus Ireland will again organise this great night across multiple locations around Ireland; raise much needed funds but also awareness about homelessness. By getting involved with such an incredible experience we would definitely encourage everyone to participate enabling Focus Ireland to positively affect lives of people they help but also have an impact on people that support their great work.”