Lester Aldridge is once again delighted to be involved in The YMCA Big Sleep Easy 2024, which will be held on Saturday 12 October 2024, at Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth. The firm's team will join forces with YMCA Bournemouth and other local businesses and sleep outdoors to raise awareness and funds to combat homelessness in the local area.

The Big Sleep Easy involves local businesses spending a night sleeping rough to raise awareness and funds to support those experiencing homelessness. Instead of sleeping on the streets, participants construct makeshift shelters from cardboard boxes and tarpaulins in a safe environment. This contrasts with the harsh reality faced by thousands of rough sleepers in the UK every night.

Lester Aldridge joined the initiative in 2018 and has been actively involved every year since. In 2019, we began sponsoring the cardboard boxes for the event, and over the past six years, we have raised over £24k for the charity. More than 40 individuals from Lester Aldridge have participated. We have also supported the charity’s school programme and provided support to Sheena Dayman and her team.

As part of our ESG commitments, we believe it is important that Lester Aldridge gives back to our communities. Participation in such events fosters connections with the communities in which we operate, and YMCA’s transformative work aligns with our values.

Mark Benham, Partner and Head of the Real Estate Group at Lester Aldridge, says “Having participated for several years now, including during lockdown where we improvised shelters in our gardens, I’ve come to appreciate the challenges and rewards of the experience. Despite the discomfort of cold nights and minimal sleep, the camaraderie among participants from various businesses creates a warm and friendly atmosphere.”