Helping to Raise Awareness of Homelessness with the YMCA.

Last Thursday night (7th March 2024) MCC members and Store Managers from across Retail supported the YMCA Sleep Easy Campaign at Leicester City KingPower Stadium. Sleeping rough so others don't have to is just one way of helping local people experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet. On arrival, we were given a cardboard box and to keep warm, we created our very own "Co-op Village" as it felt extremely cold in the stadium. And yes - we did manage to get some sleep, albeit only a few hours!

Our target was to raise £1,000 and with extra activity in store whereby colleagues dressed up in their PJ's to encourage donations, we have so far raised over £1,700 with more to come.

"Each night, the Leicester YMCA provide 104 beds to young people who have no safe place to call home. A young person who has suffered trauma, family break-down or abuse will take many small steps before they are ready to leave with confidence to set up a home of their own.

£10 buys a welcome pack for someone with no belongings.

£80 could buy interview clothes and shoes.

£275 could pay for specialist support for a young person who has suffered abuse.

Thank you to our MCC and colleagues for really getting behind this and being #Difference Makers!