Big Sleep Out Big Sucsess!
Braving temperatures as low as 3°C, seven staff from Nottinghamshire builder Robert Woodhead Limited joined over 300 other hardy souls at the Big Sleep Out at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham City Centre on Thursday 15 November. This annual event raises funds for Framework who works for homeless and vulnerable people across Nottinghamshire.
The Robert Woodhead team has raised over £1000 for Framework, with more than £500 via sponsorship from staff, suppliers and customers as well as a further £500 from David Woodhead, Managing Director of Robert Woodhead Limited.
Those sleeping out for Team Woodhead were Mathew Hall, Glenn Slater, Tom Woodhead, John Guest, Jennie Guest, Sam Sargent and Kirsty Crossley.
The event which started at 8pm on 15 November and finished at 6am on 16 November was a great success. In fact, it was one of the most successful ever. Framework Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said, “This event has been going in one form or another for the last 20 years – but we have never had a response quite like this.” Framework also run similar event in Mansfield each year, the Big Snore, which Woodhead also supported.
Those sleeping out were entertained with live music, hot drinks and food as well as speeches from Framework. Capital FM’s Dino and Pete were on hand to award Team Woodhead the ‘Most Technically Advanced Shelter’ Award – quite fitting for a local builder. Robert Woodhead won a £100 voucher for a meal atNottingham’s Chino Latino Restaurant. They intend to raffle the prize off to add to their fundraising total.
Glenn Slater, Business Development Director at Robert Woodhead’s commented,
“It was actually 3 °C quite pleasant compared to the -10°C of the Big Snore earlier this year, but it was difficult to sleep, noisy and uncomfortable. It really is hard to imagine just how hard it must be sleeping on the streets regularly. Framework can count on our continued support for the important work they are doing. The fact that David Woodhead, our Managing Director, is prepared to match our fundraising shows just how important we view the work that Framework are undertaking. Finally I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support including A-star Media for editing the video diary we kept of the night for our YouTube Channel.”
Further comments from the team included:
Tom Woodhead, Project Manager at Robert Woodhead commented, “It was good fun but there was a serious reason to do it, the next day at work was hard! But I would definitely do it again in future years, with another layer of clothing probably.”
Sam Sargent, Finance Manager at Robert Woodhead added, “It made me appreciate what some people in this world have to go through. The experience itself was enjoyable for us, but it can never give you the full experience that a homeless person may go through.”
To donate directly to Framework, please visit http://www.frameworkha.org/donate.php
We will be producing a video diary of the Big Sleep Out. Check out the Robert Woodhead YouTube Channel in the next few weeks.