A leading Christian organisation has organised for crowds of young people to unite together on April 21st evening in Edinburgh, Scotland, to reveal their support for homeless people across the city and the country.

|TOP|Bethany Christian Trust’s ‘Big Sleep Out’ has become an annual sponsored fundraising event with a focus placed firmly on gathering members of the community to be active in combating homelessness across Scotland.

The event will offer the young people an opportunity for people to learn more about Bethany’s projects with the homeless as well as other vulnerable people.

Organisers have created the night’s “Sleep-Out” to give participants a taste and tangible experience of what it is like to sleep rough for one-night. Although this can only offer a tiny insight into what homeless people go through, it has been successful in the past to raise greater awareness.

During the night, participants will be faced with a shelter-building contest, as well as a sleeping bag assault course to challenge their survival skills.

|AD|Bethany’s fundraising manager, Cat Rawlinson-Watkins said, “The Sleep-out has proved to be a really popular and fun event amongst Edinburgh’s youth. We are delighted that so many people want to help support homeless and vulnerable people in this way again this year.”

Already this year, churches up and down the country took part in Homelessness Sunday 2006 on Sunday 29 January.

Homelessness Sunday is an annual event run by the Homelessness Sunday Partnership which includes Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action. The day proved successful in fulfilling the aims to bring together thousands of churches across the UK in drawing attention to the devastating effects of homelessness.

Taking part in Bethany’s Big Sleep Out will be young people aged 14 and above, but anyone who wants to support the event without having to sleep rough are also welcome to do so via donations to the Trust.

Bethany Christian Trust’s aim is to relieve the suffering and meet the long-term needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland. As an expression of Christianity, Bethany provides a wide ranging framework of care, accommodation, support, employment training and employment opportunities to help meet the needs of homeless and vulnerable people regardless of their background or belief. Bethany Christian Trust is a Scottish Charity, based in Edinburgh and founded in 1983.

For more information about Bethany Christian Trust or its Big Sleep Out event please click HERE.