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Volunteers to sleep rough and battle sub-zero temperatures to raise money for Manchester homeless centre

The harsh reality of sleeping rough on Manchester’s streets will be experienced by fundraisers in November as they battle to raise cash for the Booth Centre during their annual Sleepout event.

Volunteers on Friday November 8 will tackle the extreme cold weather for the centre’s expansion and also to raise awareness for the issue of homelessness.

Last year, the event raised more than £22,000 however further funding is needed to redevelop the centre’s new facility.

Staff will be providing hot drinks and security and there will be short talks and performances by the Streetwise Opera music group during the evening.

Fundraising volunteer at the Centre, Nick Pilkington, said: “Homelessness is very serious, I think only more so now with lots of cuts biting people hard.

“We have been donated a new centre, it’s a lot bigger and we are trying to fit it out, but it’s expensive.

“We are particularly looking for donations of computers, ideally for a computer suite so we can train homeless people with skills for employment.”

Certificates will be given to participants and a small prize awarded for the individual and the team that raises the most sponsorship.

For further information about the sleepout, click here.

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