News
Sleep Outs Raise £59K and Counting!
Fri 11th December 2015
Our amazing fans have gone above and beyond in their support of our Big Sleep Out events and have raised more than double our £25,000 target for Glasgow City Mission’s Winter Night Shelter. Over the course of the three Sleep Outs participants have raised an incredible £59,000, and with more still to come over the next month as fans collect in pledges from their family, friends and colleagues the final total is set to break the £60,000 mark.
The total will not only fulfil the Foundation’s pledge to donate £25,000 to keep the shelter open for an extra month this winter, and provide advocacy services for those who find themselves with no alternative but to sleep on the streets, but it will also allow Glasgow City Mission to provide the same extra services next winter.
The Sleep Outs have also raised the profile of the issue in our city, with the likes of Kenny Miller, Mark Hateley and Fernando Ricksen backing the initiative and dropping in to visit the sleep outs to lend their support to the cause. Participants also got a small insight into the plight of those who sleep rough in Glasgow and many described the Sleep Out as ‘a humbling experience’.
Graham Steven from the City Mission commented, “Glasgow City Mission is absolutely delighted with the generosity of the Rangers Charity Foundation and their fans. The response to the sleep out events have blown everyone away and to have raised £59,000, more than double the initial £25,000 target, is incredible and testament to the Foundation’s desire to make a big difference in the local community.
“This money will be used not only to provide an additional month’s service at this year’s Glasgow Winter Night Shelter, the extra money will also be used for the following years’ service. This means hundreds of extra people who are homeless can receive emergency accommodation and avoid sleeping on Glasgow’s cold streets.
“In addition, money will also be spent on legal advocacy work to take place to ensure people receive the lasting accommodation they are entitled to. We cannot thank Rangers Charity Foundation, the Club and fans enough for their support and making such a significant impact in our community”.
Connal Cochrane, Director of the Foundation, said, “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of our fans for the Sleep Out events – they’ve really taken the cause to their heart. It’s incredible that we have managed to raise such a massive sum for Glasgow City Mission’s Winter Night Shelter and I can’t thank everyone involved enough for their commitment and generosity.”
Rangers Managing Director Stewart Robertson added, “It’s been fantastic to see the number of fans who have stepped up to take part in the Foundation’s Sleep Out events and have raised so much money for a great cause. The total has smashed the Foundation’s pledge of £25,000, meaning there will be funds to help the shelter again next winter, and this is testimony to the huge commitment and generosity of the Rangers support. On behalf of the Club, I’d like to pass on my thanks to everyone who took part and to all their friends and family who sponsored them. We can be very proud of what the fans and the Rangers Charity Foundation achieve in the name of the Club.”
