Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have teamed up to call on businesses, employees, and individuals across Ireland to take part in the tenth annual Shine a Light Night sleep-out on Friday, October 14th.

The most recent figures show that there were 10,492 people across Ireland in emergency accommodation in June 2022. This number includes 3,701 children and 1,385  families. That is why this year's sleep-out is more important than ever.

This is the tenth year of Shine a Light Night. It was first launched in October 2012 when a total of 55 Irish business leaders participated and supported the initiative by raising over €350,000 for Focus Ireland’s prevention services.

This year, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy aim to raise €1.5m during the fundraising campaign, surpassing last year’s funds raised of approximately €1.25m. This money will go directly to services preventing families in Ireland from becoming homeless, whilst creating sustainable, long-term solutions to homelessness in Ireland.

How can you get involved?

You can get involved in Shine a Light Night by signing up to sleep out at home with friends or family on shinealight.focusireland.ie. When you register, you will be able to set your own fundraising goal and create a page you can share to help raise the vital funds.

On the same night, business leaders will be invited to sleep out at socially distanced events taking place across the country at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin, in Limerick at King John’s Castle and at Cork’s historic Spike Island. If you are a business owner, you can also sign up your company for the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.

Speaking about the initiative, Ciara Carty, Director of Services with Focus Ireland said:

“With homelessness numbers continuing to rise, and Shine a Light Night being our most important fundraising initiative each year, we call on business to continue their support of our homelessness services and take part. The business community in Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the vital homelessness services we provide, which we are truly grateful for. To reach our goal of €1.5 million, we are relying on the support of our corporate community.”

Focus Ireland's supports are more in demand now than ever before with the increase in the number of individuals and families in need. Corporate support is one way the service manages to raise vital funds. Bord Gáis Energy has been working closely with Focus Ireland to drive awareness of family homelessness and has sponsored Shine a Light Night since 2019.

Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have been able to grow participation in Shine a Light Night, increase donations and help tackle family homelessness in Ireland and recently, it was announced that Bord Gáis Energy will continue to be the proud sponsor of Shine a Light Night until 2026.

Through this partnership, Bord Gáis Energy and Focus Ireland have supported over 7,000 families and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from experiencing homelessness.

Speaking to Newstalk.com, Emma Burrows, Director of Legal, Regulation and Corporate Affairs at Bord Gáis Energy said:

“Bord Gáis Energy has a long-standing partnership with Focus Ireland and we’re committed to supporting its vital work to end family homelessness in Ireland.Shine a Light Night has gone from strength to strength since we partnered in 2019 and we’re delighted to extend our sponsorship of this event into 2026.”

To register yourself or your business for this year's Shine a Light sleep-out or to make a donation, please visit: shinealight.focusireland.ie