Ruddocks sleep out for Sleep Easy 2026

Ruddocks sleep out for Sleep Easy

Fundraising for the Lincolnshire YMCA

Mel Bradley

5 May 2026

A few weeks ago, eight of us from Ruddocks did something a little out of the ordinary. We swapped our warm homes and comfy beds for cardboard boxes and a night out in the elements, and a good night’s sleep for, well… not much sleep at all.

All to support YMCA Lincolnshire and the annual national Sleep Easy campaign.

At Ruddocks, looking after our community is part of what we do every day. We support local food banks through our volunteering programme and numerous other local initiatives tackling poverty, so getting involved in Sleep Easy felt like a natural extension of that work.

Homelessness isn’t always visible, but it’s there. More people than many of us realise are facing nights without safety, warmth, or certainty about where they’ll sleep next.

It is estimated that there are over 350,000 people homeless or at risk of homelessness in the UK, and in 2024 alone, at least 1,611 people died while experiencing homelessness.

YMCA Lincolnshire, together with 83 other YMCAs up and down the country, is working to change that, providing not just accommodation, but ongoing support, including mental health services and employment guidance, to help people rebuild their lives.

But all of this doesn’t happen on its own. It relies on people who care, giving their time to support and drive fundraising efforts.

Supporting Sleep Easy locally

While the main YMCA Lincolnshire Sleep Easy 2026 event took place at Lincoln Cathedral, we hosted our own “satellite” sleep-out at our premises on Great Northern Terrace to help further raise awareness of both the event and the vital work YMCA does.

Eight of us layered up, climbed into our sleeping bags, and, fuelled by team spirit and a determination to make a difference, settled in for the night in the Ruddocks garden! It was cold and uncomfortable. And at times, a bit unsettling. Familiar surroundings feel very different in the middle of the night!

But we had an end in sight. We knew that, come morning, we’d head home, warm up with a hot drink, grab some food, and carry on with our day.

Taking part in Sleep Easy gave us a small glimpse into something that, for many, is a daily reality. It made us grateful and more aware of just how important organisations like YMCA Lincolnshire are.

Jon Gurr

Large Format Specialist, Ruddocks

Campaign impact

We set out with a fundraising target of £1,500, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends, family, customers, and wider community, we raised over £2,700! So, whether you donated, shared our page, or cheered us on, you helped make a real difference.

The event has been running nationally since 2010, with thousands taking part and has raised over £1.7 million for local YMCA services. Here in Lincolnshire, this year’s Sleep Easy raised more than £15,000, helping vital services such as emergency and temporary accommodation, as well as ongoing support to help people get back on their feet.

It’s work that genuinely changes lives, and we’re proud to have played a small part in it.

Discover more about YMCA Lincolnshire and the vital work they do.