Big PNE Sleep Out shortlisted for award as best community event

Bedding down at the Big PNE Sleep Out which took place on Friday November 15 2019 Pic: Donna Clifford

Sleeping out at Deepdale helped raised £90,000 for the city’s Foxton Centre and the event has been shortlisted for an award.

Blog Preston joined with the Preston North End Community Trust, Biffa and The Foxton Centre to organise the Big PNE Sleep Out in November last year.

Within the concourse of the Bill Shankly Kop there was a huge turnout by PNE fans and Prestonians to bed down and sleep out from 7pm to 7am to raise awareness and crucial funds for the Foxton.

Funds raised, now totalling more than £90,000, are going towards finding an empty property in the city to be converted to become a safe place for rough sleepers to bed down for the night.

The Stadium Business Awards 2020 have shortlisted the Big PNE Sleep Out for the Sustainability and Community Award.

Tom Drake speaking at the Big PNE Sleep Out

Head of community at PNE Community Trust Tom Drake said: “We are delighted to have been nominated in the Sustainability and Community Award category at TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2020, for the Big
PNE Sleep Out event.

“Ourselves, Biffa, Blog Preston and the Foxton Centre worked together for the organisation of the Sleep Out, which was a great success with more than £90,000 raised for the Foxton Centre to buy and renovate a house in Preston for the use of homeless people.

“Not only that, but it was fantastic to see more than 300 people taking part in the event on the night and with thousands more donating to the Sleep Out appeal, there was so much community spirit generated through this charitable effort.

“It is now brilliant to be recognised for the use of Deepdale for this community event with the nomination for TheStadiumBusiness’ Sustainability and Community Award.”

The Sleep Out is up against:

Sydney Cricket Ground and Biopak for their compostable packaging initiative
Queens Park Rangers FC and the Kiyan Prince Foundation for the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
US Bank Stadium for the first LEEED platinum certification for sports venue O+M
Pepsi Centre and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment for the Infinitely Recyclable aluminium cup

The awards are held at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on Monday April 20.