On 11th March 2021, the incspaces team will be supporting LandAid by participating in the SleepOut (At Home) fundraising event to raise both awareness and money to prevent young people from having to do the same every single night.
Who is LandAid?
LandAid is a charity that works to end youth homelessness in the UK. They pull companies from the property industry together to provide life-changing services to young people who are, have been, or are at risk of being homeless. Each year, they give around £2m to charities across the country to create safe, affordable, and secure housing for young homeless people. They do not, however, write a cheque and walk away. Instead, LandAid works closely with the projects for years to come, providing advice, property expertise, and in many cases financing them several times.
What does it mean to be homeless?
Yes, sleeping rough is a prime example and the most extreme example of being homeless. However, whilst sleeping on the streets is the most obvious thought that springs to mind when the word ‘homelessness’ is mentioned, the issue is far more complex than that.
A roof over the head is not enough. If somebody is living in an unsafe environment, can’t afford the roof over their head, or finds themselves in a cycle of sofa surfing and frequent moving, they can be considered homeless.
The worsening housing crisis in the UK means many young people are without a fixed address, not knowing what the future holds for them or where they will sleep each night. This causes problems when looking for employment, staying in education, receiving healthcare, even staying clean and fed becomes difficult. Family breakdowns, mental health issues, low income, and substance abuse are all contributing factors to the number of young homeless people.
So yes, whilst LandAid is on a mission to get young people off the streets, they also want to make sure that the homes provided are safe, secure, and happy places for young people to reach their full potential.
SleepOut Event
Last year, LandAid’s SleepOut night raised over £310,000, which was distributed between homeless charities across the UK. Over 525 people came together across three different cities and braved a night in the freezing cold. This does not by any means replicate the harsh reality of people sleeping rough every night, but raised valuable funds which have had a life-changing impact on many young people.
This year, due to social distancing rules, the SleepOut event has gone virtual. LandAid is simply asking that people make themselves as uncomfortable as possible in their own homes, or gardens, for one night. The more creative the better! Whether it’s a tent in the back garden, with the spiders in the shed, or squeezed in the bathtub, they’re simply asking people to forego comfort for one night and help to make a real difference in the world.
What it means to us at incspaces
As a workspace provider with a leadership team equipped with well over 50 years of experience in the property industry, at incspaces we are proud to support such an important cause. Youth homelessness is an issue we have encountered first-hand, with our very own success story coming from our Midtown site. After encountering somebody sleeping on our doorstep, our Centre Manager Tammi managed to put them in touch with a local charity who are now helping this person get back on their feet. To know that the work LandAid does will help hundreds, if not thousands more people have a place to call home makes sleeping uncomfortably for one night seem like a very minor price to pay for an incredibly worthwhile reward.
If you wish and are able to, please feel free to donate to our JustGiving page here. Even sharing the message across socials will help us raise awareness; every bit of support could help turn a vulnerable young person’s life around.
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