On Monday 1 September, our team swapped the comfort of their own beds for sleeping bags on the hotel grounds, all in support of St Basils, our charity partner who work help young people facing homelessness.
St Basils’ Sleep Out is simple but powerful: spend one night out of your comfort zone to raise awareness and funds for young people who don’t have that choice. For us, it was just one night on the hotel grounds, but it offered a small glimpse into the harsh reality many young people face every day – uncertainty, discomfort, and the challenge of not having a safe place to call home.
For everyone involved, it was humbling. The chatter around base quickly turned into reflections about how tough it must be to face these conditions every day. It was a reminder of how easy it is to take the basics for granted.
Our Chief Executive, Richard Metcalfe, also reflected on the experience:
‘Taking part in the St Basils Sleepout is a powerful reminder of the harsh realities faced by so many young people who have no safe place to call home. As a team, we wanted to step outside of our comfort zones to raise both awareness and vital funds for a cause that’s making a real difference in our community. This is about more than one fundraising event – it’s about showing solidarity, inspiring action, and helping St Basils continue their essential work supporting vulnerable young people across Birmingham.’
Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Comms at St Basils thanked the team.
‘We are so grateful to the team from Edgbaston Park Hotel for holding this sleepout. Put simply, we can’t do the work to prevent future homelessness without the support of places like them. The money raised will allow us to continue providing the vital support we do to young people experiencing one of the most difficult things they could go through. On behalf of us all, thank you.’
Waking up after a night outdoors was uncomfortable, but it was nothing compared to the daily reality faced by so many young people. The experience strengthened our commitment to supporting St Basils, and reminding us why it’s so important we continue to do our part to support the community.
The team were able to raise £700 for the charity so far, which is a great result. We’d like to thank the donors who supported us on this challenge.
If you’d like to donate, please click here, we’d love to reach our £1,000 target. Every contribution, big or small, helps make a huge difference to a young person’s life. To learn more about St Basils and their work, visit their website.
