MACS Sleep Out 2024

MACS Supporting Children and Young People (MACS) is NI’s youth-specific homelessness charity. We urge you to sleep out in recognition, not replication, of youth homelessness this Winter?

Sleep Out is on 5th December as part of a series of awareness and fundraising events taking part across NI for Homelessness Awareness Week facilitated by Homeless Connect.

Sleep Out is a fun evening. This year we have comedy from Paddy Raff, live music, a drum circle from The Gathering Drum and snacks and hot drinks courtesy of Bodega Bagels.

At 11pm the challenge begins. You get into your sleeping bag and sleep out until daybreak.

Children aged 10+ are welcome accompanied by a responsible adult on a maximum 3:1 adult/child ratio.

MACS vision is an end to youth homelessness in Northern Ireland.

MACS is a youth-specific charity, focusing our services on ages 18-25. Early intervention is key to helping young people prevent and break the cycle of homelessness and the associated risks.

At MACS we concentrate on intensive longer- typically each person receives up to 2 years wraparound services. We see first hand how with the right support this age group can and do find a place to call home and build brighter futures.  

We need your help! - Together, we can end youth homelessness.

MACS are tackling the problem locally by providing a home and/or support to almost 700 young people across NI each year.

Our support is holistic and tailored to each individual’s needs over a period of time that allows a young person to develop the capacity and resilience to move on.

We offer housing; support with education, health and wellbeing; education, training and careers, social participation in the community and ensure young people have life skills such as shopping, cooking, managing budgets , so they can leave MACS equipped and empowered to get settled in a home and achieve their personal goals.

In today's climate of funding cuts, rising costs of living and a housing crisis fundraising has become vital to MACS and our young people.

Every single person taking part in Sleep Out will make a difference to the lives of young people throughout Northern Ireland.

Thank you