A CHARITY is gearing up for its third annual Sleep Easy fundraiser.

On Saturday, May 16, Southend YMCA will be holding their youth homelessness fundraiser.

Participants are invited to take on the challenge of sleeping out overnight in a cardboard box under the stars to raise funds for disadvantaged young people at risk of homelessness.

The charity, based in Ambleside Drive, houses many vulnerable young people who would be homeless without their intervention. It also provides education, training and life skills along with help writing a CV and confidence building.

Organiser Tom Moulton said, “We can’t wait for our third annual Sleep Easy. Year after year we are blown away by the support we have received.

Sleep Easy is unique in that everyone who takes part can truly see what their hard work and sponsorship went towards, bricks and mortar, something physical that leaves a lasting legacy in Southend for years to come.”

Young people can become homeless for all sorts of reasons, including trying to escape domestic violence or abuse, poverty, breakdown of the family unit, unemployment or illness.

Sleep Easy 2015 is a means of raising awareness and funds to help combat this important issue.

Since Sleep Easy began in 2013 participants have raised more than £25,000 to fund the refurbishment of two empty properties, bringing them back into use in our community.

The properties provide eight bedrooms of move-on accommodation, allowing a next step to independence for young people in supported accommodation and relieving space for young people in more urgent need of accommodation at their main Newlands facility in Southchurch.

The main event will be held at the Newlands site on Ambleside Drive and will include entertainment, music, refreshments throughout the night and a hot breakfast in the morning with awards for the best individual and team fundraisers.

The participation fee is £10, this is to cover admin costs and refreshments and ensures 100 per cent of donations go towards youth housing development.

To sign up for Sleep Easy 2015 and for dates of open days, visit southendymca.org.uk/sleepeasy2015 For more information, call Tom Moulton on 01702 301301.