I'm about to embark on my ninth Sleep Easy event. 

Year after year it never gets easier. In years gone by I've braved wind, rain and sub zero temperatures. Last year was probably the most challenging Sleep Easy yet, spending the night sleeping out alone in my garden gave me a real sense for how hard it must be to be out on the streets alone with no where to call home. 

I take comfort in knowing that my one night sleeping rough makes a lifetime of difference to many young people's lives. YMCA Derbyshire provide housing and support for over 300 people each year. Alongside providing a safe place to live YMCA Derbyshire offer various health and wellbeing activities, therapeutic counselling, volunteer and work experience programmes all with the aim of enabling young people who have often experienced some form of trauma in their lives to access the dedicated support they need to move along positive pathways and move in to training, education and employment and on to independent living. 

I'm lucky I get to see first hand the positive impact this event this has on many young people's lives and I thank you so much for your support......together we can change lives.