More than 100 people from businesses across Wales have slept out under the Cardiff stars for Byte Night, Action for Children’s largest annual fundraiser, at the Principality Stadium to raise money for youth services run by Action for Children.
Companies including Acorn, Atradius, BT, Capital Networks, Spindogs, KPMG, Barclays, Cardiff Start, Conduit Global, Source Insurance, and Capgemini bedded down for the night to help ensure vulnerable young people across Wales have a safe and loving place to call home.
The sleepers saw performances from Luc from Headlands School and the Young Carers Aloud choir from RCT as well as hearing from Aimee Griffiths and how Action for Children had turned her life around.
Simultaneous events took place in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Reading, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham, with around 1,700 people sleeping out across the UK. Action for Children hopes Byte Night will raise over £1.2 million to support its work with vulnerable children, young people and families.
Jeremy Thomas, KPMG director and co-chair of the Byte Night Wales board, said: “I’m thrilled Byte Night came back to Wales and the wonderful Principality Stadium and that we had so many more sleepers than last year, it was a brilliant night.
“Byte Night is great fun but we never forget that we get to return to warm homes, full fridges and cosy beds in the morning. For too many young people living in Wales and across the UK, this simply isn’t the case.”
David Sadler, Head of IT Recruitment at Acorn and fellow co-chair of the Byte Night Wales board, added: ‘The money we are raising is vital as we’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the young people that Action for Children supports and hear their inspiring stories first-hand. The crowd loved Luc from Headlands School singing John Lennon’s Imagine and Young Carers Aloud’s own songs also brought the house down.
‘The money raised provides more support when they most need it and can really help put their lives back on track. We got off to a good start last year but we’re looking good to beat the 2016 total. We had a lot more sleepers this year and have raised more money in the run up to the sleep out so we’re very optimistic we can do even more to help those young in the community who need it most.”
Byte Night 2016 raised over £1.2 million, with more 1,200 people sleeping out on the same night across the UK.
To donate Byte Night, simply text BYTE17 with the amount (£) to 70070.
For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk
Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk
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