Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy calls on the people of Cork to sleep-out in the fight against homelessness

This year’s Shine A Light Night is calling on people all over Cork and nationwide to sleep out for one night and raise funds to help Focus Ireland’s vital services as the number of homeless adults in Cork stands at 372. Focus Ireland is proud to continue its partnership with Bord Gáis Energy who will again sponsor the charity’s flagship fundraising campaign.  

On the night of October 16^th, as well as asking business leaders to sleep out again on Cork’s historic Spike Island to help the cause, Focus Ireland want individuals to sign up and sleep out in their gardens or homes to help raise crucial funds. As always, since the event began in 2015, companies around Cork can also sign up to support the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.   

Safety is paramount and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Focus Ireland is working to ensure the safety of all participants and staff. The charity is prepared to host a fully virtual Shine a Light Night should government guidelines suggest doing so.

Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are aiming to raise €1.3 million in 2020 to support people experiencing homelessness in Cork and across the country.  

Speaking at the event, Ger Spillane, head of Focus Ireland services for the Mid and South West region said: “Focus Ireland works tirelessly with people in Cork experiencing homelessness to help them secure their home or to ensure they leave homelessness for good. We also work extensively across the area of prevention to make sure many other families and individuals never become homeless in the first place.   

“In the coming months ahead, the support of organisations such as Bord Gáis Energy is crucial to make a success of fundraising events like Shine A Light Night which will raise vital funds for our services across the country.”  

To date, Shine A Light Night has raised over €5.3m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland. In 2019, this support enabled Focus Ireland to help over 14,200 people.  

Commenting at the launch of Shine a Light in Cobh, Nico O Rourke, Director of Assets & Trading at, Bord Gáis Energy said: “Looking back following a challenging few months, Bord Gáis Energy has never been prouder of our partnership with Focus Ireland. The team in Focus Ireland in Cork worked in very difficult circumstances to help 12 households into long-term homes in March, April, May and June as well as support some of the most vulnerable people in our society daily. We are as committed as ever in supporting Focus Ireland to help end homelessness and increase support for those who are on the brink of losing their home.  

“We will be sleeping out on Shine A Light Night and we are asking every one of you across Ireland; businesses, families and individuals to join us this October in giving just one night to sleep out in your gardens, living rooms, workplace or at an organised sleep out in solidarity with people who face homelessness every day”  

For further information contact Dick White, Cork Area Fundraising and Marketing Executive for Focus Ireland on 086 8223690 or at dick.white@focusireland.ie.  

To register to participate in Shine A Light Night 2020 visit www.focusireland.ie/shinealight