YMCA Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch’s relationship with Castlepoint (Bournemouth) goes back several years.
Permission has been given for several fundraising events to take place on the premises including a Sports Themed Event with people encouraged to use static exercise-bikes from the YMCA Junction Leisure Centre. YMCA were also able to promote their presence in the London Marathon back in 2016 and had the use of the prime area outside of Marks & Spencer’s.
In more recent years, 2017-2019, YMCA worked in partnership with Castlepoint to provide Carol Singing by local choirs during the Christmas period…always a popular and welcomed sight and sound.
A new, exciting and unique event initiative from YMCAB was the introduction of an outside ‘Sleep Easy Event’, with local businesses and Schools sleeping encouraged to sleep outside in cardboard box shelters raising awareness and much needed funds for the fight against homelessness and inequality. Over the last two years over twelve local Senior Schools have completed this event, some delivering two/three times.
In 2019 over 140 local businesspeople took part in ‘Sleep Easy 2019’ including a team from The Dorset Chamber of Trade & Commerce, of which Castlepoint are business members, and combined these events have now raised over £75K for the YMCA and their mission/focus.
Matthew Spencer (Centre Manager @ Castlepoint) has facilitated the collection of cardboard boxes for this event for YMCA. This has gone from collections on an ad-hoc basis to a fully managed and smooth-running operation. This is an invaluable collaboration which saves hundreds of pounds for each YMCA Sleep Easy Event delivered.
In these unusual and worrying times we take nothing for granted and were extremely happy to visit Castlepoint recently to say a ‘token’ thank you, and to thank in person some of the great staff at Castlepoint for their invaluable support.
Castlepoint is a significant contributor to the community efforts of YMCA Bournemouth, ensuring that positive and lasting impact remains the number one focus of this charity. This year YMCA expect to collect around 4000 boxes.
For information on how you can be part of this years’ Sleep Easy event please contact: sheena.dayman@ymcabournemouth.org.uk