“Sleep where you Stand” gives fans the opportunity to sleep in the stands at the Memorial Stadium. This Charity event is designed to give people a small insight into the severity of sleeping conditions for those on the streets.

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Following the great success of sleep where you stand 2022 we are pleased to bring the event back in 2023. Last year saw over 30 fans and supporters’ bed down for the night in the stands at the Memorial Stadium, embracing the conditions experienced by many in our community who sleep on the streets.

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The evening started with a hot drink and a general catch up between everyone. We then heard from Jerry who gave us a very emotive and honest account of his battle with homelessness and the reason why he became homeless, helping to dispel some of the presumptions many people have about why a person is homeless.

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This year we hope to see even more fan’s joining us and helping to raise vital money for us, the community Trust, to build on our community work that supports our homeless community.

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This year we are really pleased to be teaming up with Helping Homeless Believe – a local charity set up by Hayley Jennings. HHB understand that everyone needs someone – with the right support people can make positive changes. HHB provide emergency response to anyone spotted sleeping rough in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Offering them a survival pack of basics to keep them alive along with signposting to services that may help. The charity currently reply on the goodwill of people and members of the public making donations. Hayley said of this partnership "It is great to be partnering with the Bristol Rovers Community Trust who have a large reach in Bristol's community like we do. Any money raised will be going straight back into the community, helping those who are the most vulnerable and being able to provide further support where it is needed the most”.

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We are honoured to partner up with them and following the event we will be donating x% of the money raised to HHB.

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This year’s event will take place on Friday 24th March. Starting in the Thatcher’s bar from 8pm where will hold a panel discussion about what we, as a football community, can do to help tackle homelessness and raise awareness of how and where people can help.

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Those taking part will spend the night sleeping in the stands and will be asked to bring along warm clothes, a sleeping bag and ground mat. We will provide participants with hot soup and a roll in the evening as well as a bacon/sausage butty in the morning.

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All those who take part will be offered a complimentary ticket to the Bristol Rovers home fixture against Charlton on Friday 7th April 2023. 

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We know times are hard and we don’t want anyone who wants to take part to feel pressured into raising money so there is no minimum sponsorship needed, however we do ask for a £20 registration fee. This allows us to ensure the event is able to run safely for those taking part.

Of course, we would encourage all participants to reach out to friends and family asking for their support, every £1 makes a difference! Once registered we will email you details of how to set up a Just Giving page that you can share.

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And as many of you know, here at the Community Trust we wouldn’t ask our supporters to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves, our CEO Adam will be taking to the stands again to join you all. Adam said, "The Community Trust are proud to be hosting our third 'Sleep Where You Stand' at The Memorial Stadium and supporting another inspirational organisation in Helping Homeless Believe. As the football club’s official charity, we look to help improve the lives of everyone within our great city and support those people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness”