Sleep Out Fundraiser Success for Students

First year students from South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Level 3 Uniformed Protective Services at Bangor Campus took part in the MACS Sleep Out at Banana Block, Belfast, on Thursday 23 November and raised £800 for the charity through their efforts.

The ten students and their lecturer, Irwin Pryce, braved the cold from 7pm until 7am alongside 60 other participants, three dogs and a therapy donkey.  

The Sleep Out commenced with a talk from Kate Martin CEO, MACS, followed by music and entertainment from local musician Joshua Burnside and the Gathering Drum Circle. Local comedian, Ciarán Bartlett, delivered an intimate, stand-up routine, which involved Lecturer Irwin Pryce bearing the brunt of many of his jokes and then a volunteer instructor from Yoga Quarter led everyone in some bedtime yoga.  

At 11pm it was time to bed down for the night and with temperatures plummeting to 3 degrees Celsius, the cold concrete and constant noise made for an incredibly uncomfortable sleep.  

MACS, a local charity based in Belfast, work with children and young people aged 16 –25 who may be leaving care, experiencing homelessness, substance dependency, self-harm, mental health issues, or they are generally at risk. The sleep out fundraiser is part of MACS’ efforts to help put youth homelessness to bed and this year has raised almost £20k. 

Lecturer Irwin Pryce said, “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, strengthen their mental health and be part of a community.” 

There is still time to make a donation in recognition of the students' efforts via Just Giving until Friday 1 December: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sercupssleepout All proceeds will go to MACS NI and no donation is too small.