Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have teamed up to call on businesses across Ireland to take part in the annual Shine a Light Night Sleep-out

Recent figures from Focus Ireland show that there are currently 7,991 people without a home in Ireland. This number includes 2,148 children and 928 families in emergency accommodation. That is why Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have teamed up to ask businesses and members of the public to sleep out for one night on Friday, October 15th, to help raise the vital funds needed to support Ireland's homelessness services.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for access to Focus Ireland's supports has risen and is expected to grow even further as the economic impact of the pandemic continues to unfold. The aim of this year's campaign is to raise €1.5 million for these vital services.

The Shine a Light Night campaign has been running in Ireland since 2012 and has raised over €7.1 million for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland so far. 2021 is only the second year that the campaign has asked members of the public to host their own family sleep outs, in their gardens, homes and communities.

Speaking about the campaign, Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland said:

“Shine a Light Night is our most important fundraising initiative each year and we have always been strongly supported by the business community in Ireland. We are truly grateful for their involvement and support in driving funds to ensure our vital services can continue to help those who are homeless across the country. We hope to reintroduce our schedule of outdoor corporate sleep outs this year, restrictions and guidelines permitting, but will also be encouraging members of the public, work places, schools and universities to get involved in our ‘virtual’ sleep outs or on their own premisses if it is safe to do so.

We’re relying on the support from businesses and members of the public to reach our fundraising goal of €1.5 million so we can continue to support those experiencing homelessness in communities nationwide.”

For Shine a Light Night 2021, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are hosting two socially distant events taking place; one in the Law Society of Ireland in Dublin and one in Cork’s historic spike island. Any other companies, schools and members of the public who wish to take part can organise sleep-outs in their workplace, campus or homes.

To register to take part in a sleep out and for more information please visit Shine A Light 2021 (focusireland.ie)