Lincolnshire Action Trust staff will support Lincolnshire YMCA during the 10th annual Sleep Easy event in March after seeing the effects of homelessness first hand.
Chief Executive Alison Goddard and Director of Operations Christina Hall will join volunteers for a night sleeping rough in Lincoln, to raise awareness and vital funds.
Lincolnshire Action Trust supports people in the criminal justice system and their families in a bid to try and reduce re-offending rates.
“According to our figures, one in three men leaving HMP Lincoln do so with no accommodation arranged for their first night and over half of them are from Lincolnshire,” explained Alison. “That’s a staggering number of people walking straight out of prison with no safe place to sleep.
“By taking part in the Sleep Easy we’re hoping to raise awareness around this particular route to homelessness in the city as well as vital fundraising, so that the support that is in place is able to continue.”
The charity, which supports prisoners and their families in Lincolnshire, and across the Midlands, also runs the Departure Lounge at HMP Lincoln.
Before leaving the prison on Greetwell Road in Lincoln, newly released prisoners are offered support at the Departure Lounge and can talk to a member of the LAT team.
Director of Operations Christina Hall said: “It can sometimes be as simple as offering them a cup of tea or charging their phone while they wait for a relative to collect them, but often we’re faced with more complicated needs.
“From housing to food vouchers and travel warrants to benefits, the team are on hand to offer whatever support is needed. The Departure Lounge can also offer a space to reacclimatise for those who might have served a long sentence, who are re-entering a world they no longer recognise.
“Thanks to the work of Lincolnshire YMCA and The Nomad Trust we’re also often able to organise short-term accommodation within their housing hostel and emergency night shelter.
“When the opportunity came up to support the Sleep Easy, Alison and I knew we had to do it. Having seen so many people make use of the homeless facilities in the city we know how crucial it is, especially for those trying to turn their lives around.”
Alison and Christina will join other volunteers braving the cold for a 12-hour sleep out on Friday 15th March.
To donate to the Sleep Easy campaign visit LAT’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-lat
