After a hugely successful event last year, St Basils returned to Millennium Point on Friday 25th November to host their annual big sleepout. The event took place in our Cinema Square car park and was once again successful at raising funds to help end youth homelessness.
The St Basils Big Sleepout is the oldest, longest running event of its kind. It’s one of St Basils most popular events among their community, with volunteers challenged with sleeping out in the cold during winter to understand the difficulties that homeless people go through on a daily basis.
How St Basils are doing their bit to beat homelessness
St Basils work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.
This year St Basils announced the annual event had amazingly raised £62,000 and funds are still coming in.
A community united
It was fantastic to see so many organisations braving the cold and taking part in the event, 400 individuals settled in for the night in cardboard boxes all to raise funds for the good cause. Throughout the night volunteers took part in the much loved Creative Cardboard Competition for the best dwelling, with a prize given to the lucky winner. The cardboard boxes were provided by Schumacher, who have been providing packaging for the sleepout for over 15 years.
Much needed warmth was delivered with free vegan curry and hot drinks provided by the Langar Aid project.
Fundraisers were also entertained during the night by The Band of the West Midlands Fire Services to keep spirits high on a very cold evening.
Couldn’t make it to the sleepout? You can still make a difference
It costs £5 a day to support a young person and keep them at a St Basils project. Supporters can make a one-off donation here. Help change a young person’s life for the better today.
St Basils are back planning the oldest and biggest sleepout in the UK in Birmingham. On Friday 25th November, St Basils will host their annual big sleepout at Millennium Point in Birmingham to raise vital funds to support young people experiencing homelessness in the West Midlands.
St Basils are a homelessness charity based in the West Midlands that have been supporting young people in in fear of losing their home since 1972.
St Basils are not charging for this event, it is FREE! But get involved and raise as much as you can by having people sponsor you. Free vegan curry and hot drinks will also be served by Langar Aid on the night!
You can register for the event here.
Homelessness shouldn’t be part of growing up
St Basils work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.
Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium point, said “We are delighted to offer our venue and support once more to the St Basils team, whose commitment to improving the lives of young vulnerable people aligns to our own charitable mission.
While a sleepout is challenging, a night without home comforts pales in comparison to the true horror more than 8,500 young people in the West Midlands alone are experiencing every single night without a home or place of safety.
We urge as many people and businesses as possible to sign up and join us at the sleepout. Together we can raise a record amount of funds so St Basils can continue to provide life changing support to young people in dire need throughout our communities”.
Challenge yourself and make a difference with St Basils Big Sleepout
The Big Sleepout sees hundreds of people from companies, families and groups taking part by challenging themselves, raising money and having fun; particularly in the much coveted ‘creative shelter competition’.
Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at St Basils said “Most of our young people who need support are either in full time education or working part-time and sometimes have more than one job yet are already struggling to survive on a very low income. This year St Basils celebrates its 50th anniversary and with the soaring costs young people are experiencing, we are needed more than ever. We welcome people from across the region to come along, sleepout for the night and help us raise money to support those who need it the most”.
Can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still make a difference
St Basils will also be running ‘The Big Sleepout from Home’ at the same time. So, if you can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still get involved in your back garden, office, community hall or ‘sofa surfing’ at home.
You can find out more and apply for your Big Sleepout pack by emailing [email protected].
Supporters can also make one off donations here, it costs £5 a day to support a young person and keep them at a St Basils project.
Want to book an event space with Millennium Point?
The multi-award-winning Millennium Point has 11 versatile event spaces to choose from and an excellent events team to help you with your event.
For further information about the event, charity, or venue you can get in contact with our team.
Christmas is the season of giving, and with so many fantastic charities to support this year, we’ve listed 5 below that are worth the charity spotlight this festive season.
UK Sepsis Trust & Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation
UK Sepsis Trust and Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation have decided to extend their Sepsis savvy awareness campaign to schools at the Schools and Academies Show in Birmingham. Developed in collaboration with education professionals, the new resources for all key stages, intended to help protect students and their families against this life-threatening condition associated with 1 in 5 deaths worldwide (11 million people – that’s 1 life every 3 seconds).
Carefully curated to each appropriate age group, the comprehensive Sepsis Savvy Schools lesson plans are informative and interactive, and include educational videos, teaching resources and an animation narrated by UKST’s ambassador, Harry Potter and Star Wars actor, Warwick Davis. The campaign is also supported by TV medic, Paediatrician and UKST Ambassador Dr Ranj.
St Basils
St Basils is a charity that work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.
This year St Basils planned their oldest and biggest sleepout in the UK in Birmingham. On Friday 3rd December, the event was held at a new venue, the versatile event space Millennium Point. Previously held at Birmingham Cathedral, the organisers hoped to fill it to capacity this year.
Due to last year and the pandemic, 2020’s sleepout was cancelled. Usually, the event raises over £100,000 so the organisers are hoping that this year’s is the bigger than ever. The aim was to appeal not only to the adventurous nature of people. But also, to their willingness to support young people with additional challenges of homelessness through these difficult times. You can find out more on this year’s event here.
Millennium Point Charitable Trust
Millennium Point is a landmark public building and multi-award-winning conference and events venue in the east side of Birmingham city centre. The charity use profits made by commercial activity being invested in projects, events and initiatives which support the growth of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in Birmingham and the wider region.
Over the past 6 years MPT have given more than £25m back into the local region. They have previously seen the rewarding outcome of past projects such as Bishop Vesey Grammar School – STEM Robotics Club. South Bromsgrove High School had an insightful and imaginative project with their Automatic Weather Station. Millennium Point also saw a fantastic Sensory Garden achieved by City Road Primary School.
Millennium Point Trust are always looking for new partnerships to support STEM in the region.
Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity
Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity are passionate about improving patient experience for all the women and families at their hospital.
They are a centre of excellence, offering a rage of services to thousands of women, babies, and families every year. The hospital provides specialise care in five key areas: fertility, genetics, gynaecology, maternity, and neonatal.
They’re currently raising money for the Woodland House Appeal, they’re hospital cares for over 2,000 grieving mums and dads every year who have lost a baby. News is delivered in cramped ‘quiet’ rooms, often on the maternity ward or in a busy outpatient areas/ Woodland House would change this. It will be a brand new, purpose-built, centre away from the hustle and bustle of the main hospital. They have just £1 million left to raise, to make this a reality.
Aston Villa Foundation
Working alongside key local and national stakeholders, Aston Villa Foundation delivers projects, initiatives and provides opportunities to achieve its mission of ‘Working Together to Enrich Lives’.
The Foundation and its partners work with people from a variety of backgrounds in Birmingham as well as supporting the wider ‘Aston Villa family’ through several departments including schools, football in the community, disability, health and wellbeing, education, interventions, and community relations.
On Friday 3rd December St Basils hosted their big sleepout at Millennium Point with the aim to raise funds to help end youth homelessness. The event previously hosted at Birmingham Cathedral moved to versatile event venue Millennium Point. Approximately 300 people joined up to do the sleepout to fundraise for the charity.
Due to last year and the pandemic, 2020’s sleepout was cancelled. Usually, the event raises over £100,000 so the organisers hope that this year’s is the bigger than ever. The event tries to appeal not only to the adventurous nature of people. But also, to their willingness to support young people with additional challenges of homelessness through these difficult times.
Homelessness shouldn’t be part of growing up
St Basils work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.
During April 2020 – March 2021, St Basils has been able to provide 3,860 young people with advice and support, 590 young people stayed with them every night. Not only this 92% of young people that stayed with St Basils moved on in a planned positive way.
A wealth of support to make the event a success
The event was also supported by projects and companies that made the evening a success.
Langar Aid, a project that that focuses on fighting hunger worldwide and provides vital food and water in emergencies, supplied curry and samosas to guests to warm up. The Band of the West Midlands Fire Service rose spirits by providing some tunes in a festive way. Salvation Army Cradley Heath knitted hats for the outreach team to give out, Campanile Hotels also donated thermal hats.
A team from Squire Patton Boggs, a global law firm, had the important role of handing out the cardboard boxes to guests. The boxes were kindly provided by the packaging manufactures Schumacher.
And of course, everyone that helped raise money and took part in sleeping rough for one night, so young people don’t have to.
As a charity ourselves, we were thrilled to be involved
Supporting young people improves the chances they have for their future. Helping provide a safe space, education and resources allows them to build better foundations for later life. As a strong supporter for education for STEM, Millennium Point wanted to take part.
A team from Millennium Point including CEO Abbie Vlahakis took part in the sleepout to help raise money for the life-changing charity St Basils.
So far Millennium Point have raised over £1,500, however we’re not finished yet! There’s still time to donate.
Couldn’t make it to the sleepout? You can still make a difference
It costs £5 a day to support a young person and keep them at a St Basils project. Supporters can make a one-off donation here. Help change a young person’s life for the better today.
Want to book an event space with Millennium Point?
The multi-award-winning Millennium Point has 17 versatile event spaces to choose from and an excellent events team to help you with your event.
For further information about the event, charity, or venue you can get in contact with our team.
Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint. Millennium Point is a landmark public building and multi-award-winning events venue in the Eastside of Birmingham City centre. Profits from our commercial activity are invested by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands.
St Basils are back planning the oldest and biggest sleepout in the UK in Birmingham. On Friday 3rd December, the event is now being held at a new venue, the versatile event space Millennium Point. Previously held at Birmingham Cathedral, the organisers are hoping to fill it to capacity this year. The event will be held from 6pm till 6am and £10 to take part.
Due to last year and the pandemic, 2020’s sleepout was cancelled. Usually, the event raises over £100,000 so the organisers are hoping that this year’s is the bigger than ever. The aim is to appeal not only to the adventurous nature of people. But also, to their willingness to support young people with additional challenges of homelessness through these difficult times.
You can register for the event here.
Helping the future engineers, doctors, and computer scientists of tomorrow
Supporting young people improves the chances they have for their future. Helping provide a safe space, education and resources allows them to build better foundations for later life. As a strong supporter for education for STEM, Millennium Point were thrilled to be involved.
Abigail Vlahakis, the CEO of Millennium Point said “It is a pleasure to support the important work St Basils achieves every year in tackling youth homelessness. Young people, many of whom have not engaged in education, training, or employment, are feeling abandoned by our society. However, with a little support, these very same young people could be the engineers, doctors and computer scientists of tomorrow which drive our local economy forward. Millennium Point is determined to raise awareness for this issue and proud to be working alongside the brilliant and passionate team at St Basil’s to end youth homelessness.”
(L: Jean Templeton – CEO of St Basils, M: Abbie Vlahakis – CEO, Millennium Point, R: Professor Paul Cadman, St Basils Board Member)
Homelessness shouldn’t be part of growing up
St Basils work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.
Jean Templeton, CEO of St Basils said “St Basils aims to help prevent youth homelessness in the West Midlands, advising and assisting over 4000 young people at risk of homelessness each year, housing over 1000 and supporting some 750 young people at any one time. We don’t believe that homelessness should be part of growing up for any young person and the money raised from this event will go towards ensuring young people feel cared about and have a safe, decent and affordable home and trusted, skilled support to enable them to develop their skills and confidence and move on with their lives.’
Challenge yourself and make a difference
The Big Sleepout sees hundreds of people from companies, families and groups taking part by challenging themselves, raising money and having fun; particularly in the much coveted ‘creative shelter competition’ with carboard provided yet again by long-time supporters Schumacher packaging.
Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Communications at St Basils said “We get regulars and people who are doing it for the first time, all helping each other on the night, and it makes for a great atmosphere. The creativity that some people put into the creative shelter challenge is truly amazing and we recognise that with prizes on the night. But despite the fun people have at the Big Sleepout we never lose sight of why we are doing it in the first place. All money raised will help services tailored to support young residents to build confidence and gain skills, and training and employment to ensure they can break the cycle of exclusion and homelessness. We need the support of our local communities and businesses to ensure we can create a brighter future for Birmingham’s young people”
Can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still make a difference
St Basils will also be running ‘The Big Sleepout from Home’ at the same time. So, if you can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still get involved in your back garden, office, community hall or ‘sofa surfing’ at home.
You can find out more and apply for your Big Sleepout pack by emailing [email protected].
Supporters can also make one off donations here, it costs £5 a day to support a young person and keep them at a St Basils project.
Want to book an event space with Millennium Point?
The multi-award winning Millennium Point has 17 versatile event spaces to choose from and an excellent events team to help you with your event.
For further information about the event, charity, or venue you can get in contact with our team.
Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint. Millennium Point is a landmark public building and multi-award-winning events venue in the Eastside of Birmingham City centre. Profits from our commercial activity are invested by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands.
