AROUND 80 people from businesses across Wales took part in Byte Night, the UK’s largest sleep-out, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium last Friday (Oct 7), to raise money for youth services run by Action for Children.
Companies including Acorn, BT, Capital Networks, Spindogs, KPMG, Barclays, Cardiff Start, Conduit Global, and Capgemini bedded down for the night to help ensure vulnerable young people across Wales have a safe and loving place to call home.
Simultaneous events took place in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Reading, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham, with over 1,700 people sleeping out across the UK. Action for Children hopes Byte Night will raise over £1.2 million to support its work with vulnerable children, young people and families.
David Sadler, Head of IT Recruitment at Acorn, co-chair of the Byte Night Wales board, said: “I’m thrilled Byte Night has come to Wales for the first time and sleeping at such an iconic Cardiff venue made it a night to remember. It was a tough night in many ways but also a great night of networking, fun and camaraderie. What we must never forget is that we returned to warm homes, full fridges and cosy beds in the morning. For many young people living in Wales and across the UK, this simply isn’t the case.”
Jeremy Thomas, fellow board member and KPMG Director, added: “KPMG is represented at every Byte Night venue across the UK and I’m so proud the Cardiff team were on board at the first Wales event in such great numbers.
“The money we are raising is vital as we’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the young people that Action for Children supports and hear their inspiring stories first-hand. They often run away from abusive homes but they don’t want to be on their own.
“The money raised provides more support when they most need it and can really help put their lives back on track. One night really does make a lifetime’s difference.”
Byte Night 2015 raised over £1.1 million, with more 1,400 people sleeping out on the same night across the UK.
If you would like to donate to Byte Night and support Action for Children’s youth homelessness services, please text BYTE16 £5 (or the amount you wish to donate) to 70070 to donate £5 to the leading UK charity.
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