Home comforts out the door at CEO Sleepout

BUSINESS and community leaders are invited to take part in the Bendigo Winter Night Shelter (BWNS) overnight CEO Sleepout on Wednesday 27 May.

The experience is being billed as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of homelessness in the region and the role leadership can play in addressing it.

Participants will be required to arrive at the Spring Gully shelter by 6pm with dinner to be served at 7pm.

Stories and insights from the coalface will be presented from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Dorm-style accommodation and bedding will be provided, with proceedings to finish up at 7am the next morning.

“We’re inviting not only CEOs, but basically anyone that has a reach or an ability to be able to provide support, to come and have a firsthand look at what we do with the shelter in regards to looking after the most vulnerable people in our community,” BWNS operations manager Daryl Lynch said.

“We’re trying to get as many as possible involved with community engagement to provide some financial support if they can, or even encourage their staff and their teams to be a part of the shelter and support us where possible.

“We’re loving the fact that some CEOs are reaching out to other CEOs or managers to try and broaden the horizons of people in Bendigo who are unaware that there’s so many rough sleepers.”

Lynch said if someone comes to mind, please reach out, start the conversation and invite them to connect.

“At Bendigo Winter Night Shelter, every act of leadership matters,” he said.

“Every connection opens a door and every person who steps forward helps create warmth, dignity, and hope for those doing it tough.

“This is more than an invitation, it’s an opportunity to stand up, to be seen, and to make a lasting difference in our community.”

To register your interest, Daryl Lynch can be contacted via [email protected] or 0422 482 261.