The tenth annual Shine a Light Night launches with appeal to the Irish business community to play their part in the nationwide sleep-out event on Friday, 14 October

Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are calling on business leaders, companies, employees, and individuals to give up just one night and sleep out on October 14th to raise funds for Focus Ireland’s vital services. According to the latest government figures, 10,492 people have been recorded to be in emergency accommodation in June 2022, making this year’s sleep-out more important than ever.

The demand for Focus Ireland’s services continues to increase making corporate support even more essential for Focus Ireland so that they can continue to provide vital services to those in need. Since 2015, Bord Gáis Energy has been working closely with Focus Ireland to drive awareness of family homelessness and has sponsored Shine a Light Night since 2019. Bord Gáis Energy is today announcing that it will extend its sponsorship of Shine a Light Night through 2026. Through the partnership, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have been able to grow participation in Shine a Light Night, increase donations and help tackle family homelessness in Ireland.

People across Ireland can get involved in Shine a Light Night by signing up to sleep out at home on 14th October on shinealight.focusireland.ie. On the same night, business leaders will be invited to sleep out at socially distanced events taking place across the country at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin, in Limerick at King John’s Castle and at Cork’s historic Spike Island. Companies can also sign up to support the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.

Shine a Light Night was launched in October 2012 when a total of 55 Irish business leaders participated and supported the launch campaign by raising over €350,000 for Focus Ireland’s prevention services. This year, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy aim to raise €1.5m during the fundraising campaign and surpass last year’s funds raised of approximately €1.25m, which will go directly towards services preventing families in Ireland from becoming homeless, whilst creating sustainable, long-term solutions to homelessness in Ireland.

To date, Bord Gáis Energy’s partnership with Focus Ireland has supported over 7,000 families and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from experiencing homelessness; this is largely due to the support of businesses over the years.

To register to take part in a sleep-out and for more information please visit  shinealight.focusireland.ie