On Friday 14 June 2019, Farnborough Business Park hosted their first ever ‘Sleep Out’ to raise funds for Step by Step, a charity based in Aldershot who support young people going through hard times, including homelessness.
45 slightly crazy, but totally community minded occupiers from Ashdown Phillips, Syneos Health, Fluor and Willmott Dixon and their families joined forces to support this local charity by giving up the comfort of their warm cosy beds for the night to sleep rough under the balloon hangar frame which is the focal point of Farnborough Business Park.
Katy Marlow, Event Coordinator at the Park said, ‘as soon as I started working at Farnborough, I was keen to host a Sleep Out. The Park offers the ideal environment and the iconic hangar provides the perfect backdrop to showcase our commitment to supporting our community on the Park, as well as our local community’.
On the evening Step by Step joined the ‘Sleep Out’ to provide some background on why events such as this are so important to the charity. After the talk, occupiers were treated to pizzas and an outdoor film screening before settling down into their sleeping bags for the night. In the morning, The Village Hotel, provided much welcomed bacon and egg rolls before participations were free to head of home at 7.30am to the welcomed sight of their warm cosy beds.
Anda Chun, Fundraising Manager at Step by Step said ‘We are thrilled with the support from Farnborough Business Park tenants. We are so touched that nearly 50 people came together and gave up their beds to help local young people. Their support makes such a big difference to the 245 young people that we have staying with us every night. It enables us to empower young people to break the cycle of homelessness and dream of a better future’.
Currently, the event has raised a fantastic £2,311.49 for Step by Step with more donations still due in.
