Home Leeds Yorkshire-based business ‘sleeps with Simon’ to raise money for local charity

Yorkshire-based business ‘sleeps with Simon’ to raise money for local charity

Simon on the Streets

A West Yorkshire-based print management business is holding a ‘sleep out’ in aid of homeless charity, Simon on the Streets. The event will take place at The Hepworth Gallery Wakefield on Friday 4th August, starting 7pm and finishing at 6am.

Debbie Melton, founder and managing director of Wakefield-based Red Media is organising the town’s first ‘sleep-out’ event to raise funds for the independent charity, who has been providing support to the homeless since 1991.

Attendees on the night are asked to bring along a sleeping bag and a cardboard box.

Simon on the Streets outreach workers will also be in attendance to talk about the challenges faced by the homeless. T-shirts for all those taking part will be provided at the event.


Simon on the Streets is an independent charity, working with local people who are affected by homelessness and rough sleeping in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield. The organisation offers street-support to individuals who have complex needs and cannot access mainstream services, due to behavioural issues or mental illness.

Debbie Melton commented:

“We’re hoping to reach fifty sign-ups before the event and encourage as many people as possible to support this worthy cause. Although we want to help people understand just how difficult life is for those suffering with homelessness, we also want to encourage a sense of community spirit and there will be plenty of opportunity to make new like-minded friends.”

Simon on the Streets’ general manager Gordon Laing commented:

‘We’re delighted to receive such fantastic support from Red Media; we have held a number of ‘sleep-outs’ in the past which have proved extremely successful in terms raising funds for the charity. The rate of homelessness in city centres is still disturbingly high and as such, the services Simon on the Streets provide is key in tackling the problem.

“Unfortunately, public funding does not allow us to work in this way and so we rely on the kind support of businesses such as Red Media to operate.”