Members of the Galway Simon Society at University of Galway are once again giving up their beds for one night and sleeping out as part of this year’s Sleep Out for Simon. As in previous years they are organising their own Sleep Out on campus, in the Quad. They are encouraging their fellow students to join them this Friday night, October 3, to Sleep Out and raise both funds and awareness, to ensure that vulnerable people in our community have a safe space to sleep every night, in a home of their own.
Fintan Maher of Galway Simon said: “We are delighted that the students in Galway Simon Soc are participating in our most important fundraising event of the year, Sleep Out for Simon. The funds raised will go a long way to support the ever-increasing number of people contacting our services for assistance across the west.
"Over the past few years we have seen an increasing number of young people aged 18 to 24 turning to us for support due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and increasing cost of renting in Galway," he added. "As with the students from the university who helped establish Galway Simon in 1979, it is wonderful to see this generation of students wanting to help others in our community. The determination and passion of those early volunteers, to support people to leave homelessness behind them for good, is still very much evident in the students in today’s Galway Simon Society.
“The face of homelessness has changed over the years," Mr Maher continued. "Some people are facing the threat of being homeless for the first time in their lives and it can be extremely difficult for them to accept this reality, as they would never have imagined themselves being homeless. In 2024, we supported 1,217 households across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, this included 277 families and 579 children. The number of families and children we supported in 2024 increase by 38 per cent on the previous year. We can only be here for those who need our help thanks to the continued support we receive from our wonderful community.”
Galway Simon looks forward to welcoming as many people as possible to participate in the Sleep Out for Simon tomorrow, Friday, October 3, be it from their back garden or by joining one of the Community Sleep Outs. By joining the Sleep Out for Simon you are guaranteed to come away with a sense of pride at making a difference.
To register for the Sleep Out for Simon today, visit sleepoutforsimon.ie If you can’t sleep out on the night you can still show your support by donating to the Sleep Out for Simon at sleepoutforsimon.ie or by phoning 091 381828.
