A HOMELESS awareness event is inviting residents to sleep on the streets for a night to raise money for people in need.

Street Sleep will take place on March 11 and has been organised by crisis charity The Brick.

Residents across the borough can volunteer to spend a night on the streets in Market Place in Wigan's town centre and collect sponsors for doing so.

Last year, more than 70 people took on the challenge and raised more than £10,000 for The Brick charity and now it is in its fourth year, its organisers are hoping it will the biggest year yet.

The Brick’s Support Services Manager, Louise Green, said: “We ask people to put themselves in the place of a homeless person and experience what it is really like to spend a night in the cold. Each year we have been amazed at the response we have had from people in our borough.

“We have lots of different people taking part and these include groups from local businesses who support our work, organisations such as the council and individuals who simply believe in what we are doing.”

“There is a great communal spirit to the event and it really shows that people in our borough care for those who are less fortunate than themselves.”

In a typical week, workers at The Brick see nearly 200 people who need help with issues such as financial hardship, fuel poverty, homelessness and domestic violence.

The Brick delivers 150 food parcels, serves 50 hot lunches and provides training opportunities for more than 30 people.

As well as helping those who have nowhere to live, The Brick also supports the borough’s many hidden homeless people.

These are people who may not sleep rough, but spend their nights in an ever uncertain world of ‘sofa surfing’ at friends’ houses.

This year anyone raising more than £100 through sponsorship will receive a special ‘goody bag’.

Registration takes place at 9.30pm and the event runs from 10pm until 5am the following morning.

Volunteers must be 16 to take part and under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

To register email: enquiries@thebrick.org.uk or call 01942 236953.