Members of Bristol’s business community were among around 80 people from across the South West taking part in the UK’s largest sleep-out.
They bedded down in Bristol’s Millennium Square on Friday night to raise money for youth services run by Action for Children.
Among businesses involved in Byte Night were Barclays, Civica, BT, Lloyds Bank, KPMG, EY, EE, Santander, Bath-based media group Future and Cheltenham-based IT Security recruitment specialists InfoSec People.
By raising much-needed funds for Action for Children they supported its work with vulnerable children, young people and families and helped ensure vulnerable young people across the South West have a safe and loving place to call home.
Simultaneous events took place in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Reading, Cardiff, Newcastle Manchester and Birmingham, with more than 1,700 people sleeping out across the UK. Action for Children hopes Byte Night will have raised more than £1.4m.
BT cyber network security channel director and Byte Night co-chair Mark Williams said: “Byte Night South West is now in its third year and sleeping again at such an iconic Bristol 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 always remember is that we returned to warm homes, full fridges and cosy beds in the morning. For many young people living in the South West and across the UK, this simply isn’t the case.”
Fellow co-chair and KPMG director Huw Brown added: “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. It was great to be back at Millennium Square and @Bristol as it’s a wonderful venue that works so well for us.
“Every year we take part in Byte Night and I feel so proud that more and more money is raised to provide more support, which can really help put their lives back on track. One night really does make a lifetime’s difference.”
To donate to Byte Night and support Action for Children’s youth homelessness services, text BYTE16 and the amount to 70070.
Pictured below: Byte Night supporters taking part in the mass sleep-out
