Thank you to everyone involved with the Stadium Sleep Out!

We would like to thank you everyone who was involved in the Stadium Sleep Out on Friday 1 March, whether that was taking part, donating money, helping to organise it or volunteering at the event. 

We are so grateful to everyone who took part, including members of New Hope staff, volunteers, Scout groups, churches, and local businesses.

Well done braving the wet and cold night at Vicarage Road Stadium in order to raise awareness and money for New Hope and other local charities helping people experiencing homelessness. Over £50,000 was raised!

Team Haven posted on social media during the event, and one post in the middle of the night particularly highlights the reality of just how awful sleeping rough must be: It’s currently 2.45am and the temperature is just 3 deg C, rain is pouring. For us it’s just one night outside: imagine having to face this daily. It’s unimaginable. 

It is indeed unimaginable what people have to experience when rough sleeping: indeed many people taking part on the night commented on how valuable they had found the experience in giving them more insight into this. Thank you so much to all the participants for raising a massive amount of money that will be split between New Hope, DENS, Herts Young Homeless, Watford FC CSE Trust and One YMCA.

Thank you also to the amazing New Hope volunteers who turned up at 5.30am to clear up and pack down the event! They were all amazing and summed up the heart of New Hope – helping sacrificially without reward.