Participants will be able to experience what homelessness feels like for many people in the Goulburn Valley in a set-up like this one from a previous St Vinnies sleepout in Sydney.
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Contributed
More than 60 people who don’t have to sleep rough in the elements have signed up to do just that, to help others who have no choice.
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In just two weeks’ time, The Salvation Army North East Youth Services will host its first overnight outdoor sleepout, regional Victoria’s answer to Melbourne’s CEO sleepout, at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
“We want to gather all the VIPs from across the Goulburn Valley; the CEOs, the school principals, the business owners, the directors, the dealer principals and so on,” Salvation Army NEYS youth participation worker Jim Gow said.
“Then we are going to show you what youth homelessness looks like, tastes like and eventually feels like.
“This event is also open to the public; the allies, the friends, the people that just want to lend a hand.”
The event, named Under the Same Stars, is an initiative that challenges the advantaged to step up and help youth disadvantaged by homelessness in the region.
It will raise both homelessness awareness and funds, which will be directed specifically towards youth homelessness and will stay 100 per cent local.
“There will be discussions. There will be exercises around what it might feel like to spend 12 hours in these shoes,” Mr Gow said.
“We’re going to sleep rough. We will have cardboard to sleep on. You only have to do it one night, not weeks or months or years at a time.”
Organisers are predicting ticket sales to be in triple figures as the inaugural event draws nearer.
“More than 60 tickets have already been sold, and we’re not even close to the event date, so we are expecting well over 100 tickets to be sold,” Mr Gow said.
A pair of Shepparton ultra-athletes, Peter Ralph and Vic Bovalino, will embark on a ‘100 Miles from Home’ running challenge the day before to raise funds for the same cause.
Salvation Army youth participation worker Jim Gow with ultra-runners Peter Ralph and Vic Bovalino.
Photo by
Bree Harding
They expect it will take them around 18 to 20 hours to run 100 miles, or 161km, to time their arrival back in Shepparton at the Under the Same Stars event on the night of Wednesday, April 16.
“This has been in our minds for a while, and why not raise funds for a worthy cause by doing it, everybody wins. Our running preparation has gone well so now it is green light and game on,” Mr Ralph said.
“We’ve plotted our desired route and have done hundreds of hours of preparation and running to get ready for it. We both feel that we are as prepared as we can be.”
The sleepout night will include information about local homelessness statistics for under 25-year-olds, guest speakers discussing their experience with homelessness, and details of where the money will go, as well as exercises in simulating budgeting when earning Youth Allowance and the challenges that brings.
“Ultimately, I think our community is full of helpers if people reach out. Now, we’re reaching out,” Mr Gow said.
“This event is going to need a community to come together in order to make it successful. Here’s your chance.”
Under the Same Stars starts at 6pm on Wednesday, April 16 and continue until 6am the following morning, Thursday, April 17.
It is run by a youth service and held during the school holidays, so young people aged 15 to 25 are encouraged to attend for free with the adults from their households (please let organisers know).
The event is fully supervised and drug-, alcohol-, smoke- and vape-free.
∎ Tax-deductible tickets for chief executives, VIPs and business owners are $199. Tickets for the general public are $49. All tickets include a light dinner. They can be booked here.
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