SERC Team's Sleepless Night Helps Young Homeless

Students on the BTEC L3 Uniformed Protective Services course at SERC Bangor Campus have raised around £1,000 to help combat youth homelessness, by forsaking home comforts for one winter night.  On Thursday 5th December, nine students, along with their tutor Irwin Pryce, completed the MACS Sleep Out at Banana Block, Belfast to support the charity and to help raise awareness of the issues the organisation faces. The timing of the event coincided with Homelessness Awareness Week, running from 2nd-11th December and the SERC team was joined by more than 60 other participants. 

MACS is a charity that focusses its services on people aged 16 - 25, aiming to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness and its associated risks. MACS is tackling homelessness by providing a home and/or support to almost 700 young people across NI each year. 

The evening of the sleepout began with a talk from MACS CEO Kate Martin, followed by music and entertainment from the Gathering Drum Circle and Charlie from Bangor based band, Panic Over. Top Belfast stand-up and social media sensation Paddy Raff provided a comedy show for the participants and a light breakfast was provided by local favourite, Bodega Bagels. 

With temperatures plummeting to 2°C, the cold concrete and constant noise made for an incredibly uncomfortable sleep. SERC student Phoebe Topping says, “While shivering and struggling to get comfortable on the cold ground, I thought about how difficult it would be to get a decent sleep if I was homeless, something most of us take for granted when tucked up in bed.” 

The students are working to accrue hours towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award and Volunteer Now Impact Awards, two additional qualifications which are embedded into their course as part of a hands- on, project-based approach to learning.  

Irwin Pryce says, “On behalf of the students, I would like to thank everyone who donated to this cause. The money raised will make a real difference in the run up to Christmas in empowering young people - to have a home, to strengthen their mental health and to be part of a community.” 

SERC Students' Union joined in with the fundraising on behalf of the students, running a raffle for a Christmas Wreath and a guess the number of sweets in a jar competition along with a scavenger hunt for students throughout Bangor campus. In addition, SERC Horticulture in Holywood offered the apples from their trees in return for a donation to the students. 

You can find the SERC students' fundraising page here. It will remain open until the end of Friday 13 December, for anyone who still wishes to donate.  

In the picture: Back row,  L to R Irwin Pryce, Adam Fisher, William Gilchrist, Conor Crossett, Sam Cree, Charlie Danter; m  Front L to R Phoebe Topping, Beth Mitchell-Andrews, Anna Walker, Natalie Gough