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Shots Again Support Sleep Out

Aldershot Town host Step By Step’s fifth-annual Big Sleep Out this weekend, with Chairman Shahid Azeem and Director Andy Muckett joining those sleeping out so others don’t have to.

The Sleep Out is the largest fundraising event in the homeless charity’s calendar, with up to 100 people all spending the night of Friday 19 June sleeping on the East Bank at the Electrical Services Stadium to help those who have to sleep rough for the other 364 nights of the year.

Shahid and Andy will be joined by staff from Club sponsor Reade Signs as individuals, groups, clubs, families, friends and work colleagues take the plunge to raise awareness of the problem of youth homelessness, and raise much needed funds for Step By Step’s training services. These services equip the young clients with the basic life skills required to live independently and help them gain employment or a place on a college course.

Before settling down for the night at 11.30pm, participants will enjoy an evening of entertainment, live music and competitions, with both night-time refreshments and breakfast served by Clark Caterers.

“This stadium has given me many great memories, but I’m sure a night sleeping on the East Bank will be amongst the most vivid,” said Muckett. “It’s a fantastic cause and I am delighted that Aldershot Town FC are again supporting such a great event. We all take so many things for granted, but too many people are still without basics like a bed, a roof over their head and hot food, night after night, and we must do what we can to help these members of our community.”

Even in a relatively affluent area, there are many young people from Surrey and Hampshire who are forced out of their homes by their parents, or who leave to protect their own well-being. For the past 21 years, Step by Step has provided a bed to sleep in, support and counselling to those people, with plenty of help so that they can pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

Donations can be made by texting SBSS15 followed by £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070, or through Reade Signs’ JustGiving.com page https://www.justgiving.com/reade-signs1/.

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