H-J Wealth Planning have been part of The Albion Foundation’s Patron Club since November 2022 and the Birmingham based financial planner have also committed their support to the upcoming Albion Foundation Sleep Out.
Supporters will experience a night under the stars at The Hawthorns on Friday 24 March 2023, with participants spending the evening in the stands and concourse of the Smethwick End.
Matt Holden-Jones, Managing Director of H-J Wealth Planning, is keen to show his support for the event, having experienced homelessness himself and ultimately working his way out of that environment.
“I was on the streets for a few weeks and then thankfully taken in, looked after a little bit and then in hostels for a couple of years after that,” said Holden-Jones.
“I know first-hand the environment that you’re in, both on the street and in hostels, where you’re getting support from places like The Albion Foundation.
“It was important for me to come and support what they’re doing for the community, for homelessness and just to help people become more aware of what’s happening in the community, to hopefully get more support for those that are less advantaged than some of us today.”
Registration costs £15 for Adults and £10 for Children (Age 10-17) and all participants are required to raise a minimum of £25 in sponsorship, with all funds raised helping to support the homeless community in Sandwell.
Entertainment from a musician and football freestyler is scheduled in for the evening, with hot drinks and refreshments available and several former Albion players also joining the event over the course of the evening.
Running for its second consecutive year, the Sleep Out is part of a longer-term project between The Albion Foundation, West Bromwich Albion Football Club, Brushstrokes Community Project and Sandwell Council’s Change into Action Network.
“Some of the people that do go through the sufferings that are in that environment, sometimes don’t see a way out, sometimes they’re not surrounded by the right type of people,” added Holden-Jones.
“The Albion Foundation bring light to that sort of situation and then support people and give them a choice to be able to come out from that.
“They make their lives a bit better, a bit more focused, to ultimately try and get out from an environment of homelessness into an environment of independence.
“Any donations you can make would obviously be greatly appreciated, but more so is turning up to the event and supporting it first-hand so you can understand what some people in the community must go through being homeless.”
To book your place, please click here.
ATTENDEES AGED 10-17 YEARS OLD MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
To join our JustGiving team page, please click here.
For more information or for any enquiries, please email events@albionfoundation.co.uk
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, then please visit https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/roughsleepers and complete the form. Alternatively, you can contact the Rough Sleepers Team by emailing rough_sleepers@sandwell.gov.uk or phoning 0121 368 1166 – option 2 (during office hours) or 0121 569 6883 (out of hours).
