NI Charity, MACS Supporting Children and Young People (MACS) are challenging people to give up their bed for one night to raise funds that will help MACS to sustain the crucial housing and support services they provide to young people locally.

MACS is also the Northern Ireland member charity of Every Youth, a UK-wide network of charities who have joined forces to tackle the UK’s youth homelessness crisis on a national scale.

MACS will host the Sleep Out challenge at Banana Block in Belfast on the 23rd November.

Kate Martin, MACS’ CEO describes how,  “It would be impossible to recreate the fear, loneliness and discomfort of not having a safe place to call home but Sleep Out gives participants a glimpse into the reality some young people are facing.”

MACS reassures, ‘Sleep Out is a fun filled evening. We’re thankful to Banana Block for donating their venue hire, and to comedian Ciaran Bartlett and musician Joshua Burnside who’ll both be performing on the night alongside a drum circle by Gathering Drum and some bedtime yoga from Yoga Quarter. There’ll be warm drinks and food courtesy of Bodega Bagels and there’s always a great sense of camaraderie. Hinting at further celebrity participation Kate Martin quips ‘well, you never know who you’ll end up sleeping with at Sleep Out!’

Previous Sleep Outs have been attended by well-known supporters of MACS including actors Colin Salmon and Niamh McGrady; country singer Lee Matthews, chart topper Pixie Lott and author Glenn Patterson.

MACS emphasise how crucial fundraising is to continue their services, stating ‘Homelessness on the streets is now a visible problem but it is only the tip of the iceberg. The hidden homeless are sofa surfing or staying in temporary accommodation which doesn’t always offer appropriate conditions or support for young people’.

Youth homelessness, in particular, often involves a complex history of family conflict, adverse childhood events, poverty, mental health issues, generational trauma and low levels of educational attainment. Once young people experience homelessness their risk of substance dependency, poor mental health, self-harm and involvement in crime increases as does their risk of becoming long-term or street homeless so MACS approach is to act early and holistically, supporting each young person’s needs on an individual level.”

MACS are tackling the problem locally, providing a home and support to almost 700 vulnerable young people across NI last year.

MACS deliver innovative programmes that tackle the barriers and circumstances that contribute to youth homelessness. The charity is shortlisted for two prizes at the Children and Young People Now Awards ceremony in London 2023 for the ‘Supporting Child Refugees Award’ for their work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and the ‘Youth Justice Award’ for their Prison Resettlement work which works with young people leaving prison.

People released from prison into homelessness have almost double the rate of reoffending and homelessness is a barrier to employment.

MACS’s Shared Tenancy scheme is another innovation designed to give better access to the rental market. Working closely with the NIHE and funded by Supporting People, MACS  matches individual young people to live with others, therefor splitting and reducing the costs for each young tenant. In addition, Every Youth’s Housing Fund can be accessed by MACS to provide a rent deposit , or rent in advance, which can massively help young people overcome a difficult barrier to accessing private rental properties, especially if they are without family who are able to support in this way.

MACS and Every Youth’s core belief is that ‘With the right opportunities and support, homeless young people can move on with their lives and ambitions and build positive futures’.

Every single person taking part and raising money will make a difference to the lives of young people throughout Northern Ireland.

To take part, register on Eventbrite or click here:  https://MACSSleepOut2023.eventbrite.co.uk

Early bird, half price registration of £10 applies until November. Children £5.

For further info or to plan your own Sleep Out event email events@macsni.org and to donate www.justgiving.com/campaign/macssleepout2023