A homelessness charity is calling on more people to take part in a sleep out at the  Toughsheet Community Stadium to help four great causes.

The "Tough Sleep" event, which will help to raise money for the charities supporting vulnerable people including Bolton Wanderers in the Community, Urban Outreach, Back Up North West, and Emmaus Bolton, will take place on Friday, March 22 from 8pm to 8am.

And as it fast approaches, Emmaus Bolton is now appealing for people to sign up for the sleepout at the event, which has been organised by Bolton Wanderers, in partnership with the official club charity, Bolton Wanderers in the Community.

The fundraiser is taking place during Emmaus' 70th anniversary year since a radio address from the founder of the organisation, Abbe Pierre, triggered an outpouring of support for people who were sleeping rough on the streets of France, and played a part in the setting up of the first Emmaus communities in the UK.

Sleep out organisers are asking for people to raise a minimum of £100, with proceeds to be shared between the four charities.

Director of Emmaus Bolton, Tony Stephenson, said: “Emmaus Bolton is privileged to be able to take part in this fundraiser organised by Bolton Wanderers FC and Bolton Wanderers in the Community, alongside other local charities Backup North West and Urban Outreach.

“It has been 70 years since the radio address by the founder of the Emmaus movement Abbe Pierre called for community kindness, and this year we’re asking people in Bolton to do the same.

“By signing up, fundraising, or donating to people who are sleeping out, you’ll be helping four local charities help people in Bolton who are in need.

“Sadly, rough sleeping was the harsh reality for some of the people supported by Emmaus Bolton, and not just for one night, some people lived like this for many years.

“We hope this event will help raise awareness of the hardships faced by people who are rough sleeping while helping raise money to support people at the same time.”

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Phil Mason, CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community, said: “We are proud to once again be hosting this event with the aim to raise both awareness and funds for the local Bolton charities that do so much good work in our community to support the most vulnerable.

“We had a successful sleep out last year in testing conditions, raising an incredible £27,000 – and I’m sure that this year we can push that even further.

“I encourage as many supporters as possible to take on this unique challenge to do something special for our community here in Bolton.”

Bolton Wanderers’ CEO, Neil Hart, said: “As a club, we are proud to support our official charity, Bolton Wanderers in the Community, as well as the vital work of the other remarkable local charities that will be involved.

“We had a fantastic response to our inaugural Sleepout, and we were delighted to raise a significant amount through the event to tangibly benefit people in the community.

“I’ll be taking part again this year and I hope we can encourage as many people as possible to join us to help surpass last year’s total.”

Everyone signed up to the event will hear presentations about each of the charities on the night and receive food and refreshments.

Anyone who would like to sign up is encouraged to do so as soon as possible as places are limited and pay £10 to confirm your place here: https://www.bwitc.org.uk/our-events/bwfc-tough-sleep/.

If you can’t sleep out but would like to donate to the fundraiser in support of the Emmaus Bolton team taking part in the event, you can make a donation here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/emmaus-bolton-bwfc-sleepout.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.