Local charity Barnabus are partnering up with Urban Exchange Retail Park to illuminate Manchester’s growing number of homeless people.
Scouts and Explorers from the North Manchester Scout District will camp out at the retail park on Friday evening, creating a ‘cardboard city’ of houses for display and packing Christmas gift bags for donations.
They will also be treated to a Q&A session with a former homeless person who was helped by Barnabus, educating the group about a day in the life of being homeless.
Carol Price, Development and Fundraising Manager of Barnabus, a charity committed to helping those who sleep rough on the streets, is delighted to be working with the Scouts, and stressed the importance of raising awareness at this time of year.
“This time of year is one of the most difficult for people living on the streets,” she said.
“The support we have received regarding the event will help us work towards our goal of eradicating homelessness in the area.”
The charity is doing all it can to put the spotlight onto the issue of homelessness, as the figures for sleeping rough in the North West increased by a staggering 89% from 2010-2014.
Simon Lee, manager of Urban Exchange’s GO Outdoors, emphasised how excited his team are to host the event.
“We love taking part in the community and this is such an important and growing cause in the local area,” he said.
Barnabus celebrates its 25th anniversary of helping the homeless next year, and supports the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of over 600 homeless people every week.
Image courtesy of Franco Folini, via Flickr, with thanks
