YMCA East Surrey raises over £2,600 through Sleep Easy initiative

A group of intrepid individuals at Redhill’s Memorial Park, plus a couple of dozen teenagers at Reigate’s Sovereign Centre took part in the YMCA East Surrey Sleep Easy event on Friday 6^th March, raising over £2,600 to assist local young homeless people.

The Memorial Park group all slept out in the rain overnight, with just cardboard boxes for shelter and substitute mattresses.

The group was delighted to be joined by Councillor Rich Michalowski, Mayor of the Borough of Reigate & Banstead and Ward member for Redhill West and Wray Common. 

Councillor Rich Michalowski with Sleep Easy participants in Redhill

Numerous local businesses generously sponsored the event, including Borahurst, Crawley Fire Protection, Home Instead Reigate & Tandridge, Keymex Reigate, Komputer Consultancy Service, Qubed, Raven Housing rust, RETHINK print & Marketing Services, Sophie Griffiths Architects and long-term supporter Vesty Foods International.

Councillor Rich Michalowski told the Surrey Mirror, “Well done to those who braved the elements by spending the night in Memorial Park, Redhill for this year’s YMCA East Surrey Sleep Easy event.  Arriving late, having attended an earlier local sports award, I was particularly pleased to find there was still enough cardboard to make my shelter for the night!

“The aim was to raise funds for homeless young people in our community supported by  YMCA East Surrey.

“While this event doesn’t aim to replicate the reality of homelessness, a night spent sleeping out helps us to imagine what it is like to not have a safe, warm place to call home. 

“My thanks go to the Sleep Easy team for looking after all the participants and to the fundraisers for taking on the challenge.  A word of gratitude also goes to the sponsors and those who provided the logistics.  Well done all.”

Lee Fabry, Head of Housing at YMCA East Surrey with fellow volunteers

This is in fact the ninth time the Mr Michalowski taken part in a Sleep Easy event, making him one of the most regular participants in the East Surrey element of a nationwide YMCA initiative.

Sleep Easy was sponsored by numerous local businesses

About YMCA East Surrey

YMCA East Surrey is a vibrant, local charity that helps vulnerable children, young people and adults to belong, contribute and thrive. Its wide range of projects and activities aim to help create happy, healthy and connected communities. The ethos is that everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become.merous Challenge events, including a Fun Run and Festival of Sport on Sunday 3rd May 2026.