Sleep out on Spike Island prison for willing fundraisers

Spike Island lends itself to highlighting just how isolating life can be for people who are homeless or in danger of falling into homelessness.

Shine A Light Night 2019, proudly supported by Bord Gais Energy is only 2 weeks away with the Business Leaders Sleep Out this year being staged on Spike Island. The spectacular Cork Harbour setting, Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction in 2017, is supporting Focus Ireland’s fight against homelessness on Friday October 18, and the people of Cork can take part too.

The Focus Ireland organised evening was held in the AIB on South Mall on the 19^th September . Speakers at the event included Ger Spillane, Regional Manager Focus Ireland, John Crotty , Spike Island Manager with the evening mcc’d by Dick White, Focus Ireland.

Speaking on the night, Focus Ireland  Regional Manager Ger Spillane stated “Focus Ireland is delighted that the Business Community of Cork is coming together for one night to help raise €1 million to reach more families, who need their help, more than ever before.  By sleeping out for one night, you can help change the life of a man, woman or child experiencing homelessness locally.”

Cork Shine a Light Night participants will be transported from Cobh to Spike Island on the night of the 18^th. John Crotty, Manager of Spike Island, is full of enthusiasm for the event and stated “I feel that our location lends itself to highlighting just how isolating life can be for people who are homeless or in danger of falling into homelessness”.  “It is also great to see the island as now part of the solution and no longer part of the problem, as our 1850’s prison was used to lock up the homeless, as ‘vagrancy’ as it was then known was a crime”. 

The evening presented participating business people an opportunity to be briefed on the work of Focus Ireland and to be updated on Shine a Light. Dick White of Focus Ireland explained “ Shine a Light builds awareness of the work we do, highlights the issue of homelessness and generates an income stream to deliver our services. To do this we need the continued backing of Cork people and business who have already been hugely supportive. Crucially 89 cent of every 1 euro we spend goes directly back into the services we deliver. ”

There are three ways to take part in Shine A Light Night 2019..

·         The Business Leaders event is being held on Spike Island on Friday, October 18.  They can be sponsored on their own pages.

·         You can also get your team together and organise Shine A Light at Work by hosting a workplace Sleep Out, to raise awareness and generate funds for essential local Focus Ireland services.

·         Shine A Light in the Community gives the option to the wider community to organise an event in your local park, club, town or village.

Shine a Light Night is a fully organised Focus Ireland event and proudly supported by Bord Gais Energy. All participants will receive fundriaisng support, materials and advice. To register today or for further information please contact Dick White (dick.white@focusireland.ie or  086 8223690), or  register on Focusireland.ie/shinealight .