Staff at Midlands-based engineering firm adi Group have helped to raise awareness of the city’s youth homelessness, after swapping a cosy night in for cold cardboard shelters as part of an annual sleep out event in Birmingham.
Adi Group, which is headquartered in the Kings Norton area, raised more than £1,800 in the annual St Basils BIG SleepOut, nearly doubling its target of £1,000.
Group chief executive Alan Lusty; company secretary Tina Lusty; group HR manager Lorna Quigley; group sales and marketing director James Sopwith and technical support manager at adi Healy Compressor Services, Karl Healy, all donned onesies to take part in the charity fundraiser, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary.
After building its shelter in the style of a house, adi Group was highly commended in the Jaffabox Creative Cardboard Competition for best shelter.
Lusty commented: “As a Birmingham company born and bred, we feel we have a responsibility to put something back into the community, particularly for the next generation.
The St Basils BIG SleepOut is an important part of that commitment, given that it aims to provide young people with the most fundamental support possible.
“This is the second time that we’ve taken part in the event, the longevity of which is testament to the team at St Basils. They work incredibly hard to raise awareness of the issues around homelessness, and as a result make a real impact on the city’s youth.”
St Basils works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It runs prevention, accommodation and support services in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Worcestershire, the Wyre Forest and Coventry.
In total, 440 people took part in the event, just over the 414 young people housed by St Basils every night, with more than £17,000 being raised so far.
