Individuals / Groups
Event details
Date:
Friday 13 October
Time:
All night. Join us online from 9pm - 11pm for an online schedule of activities so everyone across the country can be a part of Shine A Light 2023!
Locations:
Your Choice - Home, Garden, Community Centre, Club (*Please make sure you have obtained the necessary permissions)
'On the Night' Schedule:
A special programme will be made live here on Friday 13 October.
Will you sleep out against homelessness?
Taking place on Friday Oct 13, Shine A Light, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy, is one night out of your comfort zone to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland to continue its work towards ending homelessness.
Will you organise a sleep out against homelessness this October? It doesn’t take much, but it means everything to those who need your support, and we’ll be here to help you when you sign up.
Your sleep out could be with your family, your neighbours, your community group, your sports club, or simply by yourself. And you don’t have to raise thousands to make a real difference. Every little bit of support is so valuable. Raising just €125 could help provide a person escaping homelessness with the support and training they need to build a brighter future.
Why your support is needed more than ever right now.
Imagine that you’re a parent with a young child and another baby due any day. You’ve just lost your family home because your rent has gone through the roof and despite frantic searching, you can’t find anywhere to live. What would you do if this was you? How would you feel, knowing that your new baby might be born into homelessness?
This is the kind of desperate situation facing many families in Ireland right now, due to housing shortages combined with high rental and mortgage costs. But thanks to your support, there will always be somewhere these families can go for help.
Number of people who are homeless and relying on emergency homeless accommodation*:
3,829
Children
1,560
Young Adults (18-24)
9,018
Adults
* These figures are correct as of July 2023.
Fundraising
We ask each of our participants to aim for an individual target of €250 to support our essential work. Together, with the support of Bord Gáis Energy and your amazing fundraising, we’re aiming to raise €1.2 million in 2023 to support people experiencing homelessness in Ireland.
Each individual that raises over €50 will get one of our new beanies in the post to wear on the night*.
*We cannot guarantee that deliveries after Friday 6th October will arrive in time for the event.
Challenge a Friend
Once you’ve registered, it’s time to challenge your friends, family, and neighbours to take part in Shine A Light to Sleep Out Against Homelessness. As the number of families becoming homeless has increased by 30% in the last year, there’s never been a more important time to show your support. So let’s team up, spread the word, and bring more people together to stand in solidarity with children, families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
