Kids Planet sleep out included six team members from several Blackpool nurseries to raise money for local homeless charity Street Life.

Street Life

Street Life is a youth work charity providing emergency shelter and support to vulnerable and homeless young people aged 16-25 in Blackpool and surrounding areas.

There was a huge £25,000 raised on the night and Kids Planet has raised over £700 for the charity, with initiatives outside of the sleep out including a Pyjama day at Kids Planet Bluebell Lodge.

Area manager Lisa Taylor was joined by Anne Smithen, nursery manager at Kids Planet Clifton Lodge, Lynsey Broughton, nursery manager at Kids Planet Shepherd Lodge, and several other team members who all slept out at St John’s Church.

Located in the middle of Blackpool town centre opposite the Winter Gardens and under the bright lights of the Blackpool Tower, the team from Kids Planet joined a team from Beaverbrook’s and local celebrity Jodie Prenger, withstanding what many sadly have to endure every day.

Lisa Taylor, area manager at Kids Planet, said:

“It was a lot colder than we imagined and you could hear all the cast of Mamma Mia have their end-of-tour party – I can’t imagine how it must feel hearing everyone having a good time whilst you are curled up in the cold!

“As we walked up to where the sleep-out was taking place, there were homeless people in doorways of the shops that had been boarded up, so the reality of why we were doing it was very raw and real. I cannot imagine sleeping in those conditions night after night. I’m incredibly proud of the team for getting involved in this event and raising awareness of such an important topic.”