News

Our Big Ibrox Sleep Outs are back at Ibrox for 2023, giving fans the opportunity to sleep outside overnight in our iconic stadium while raising money for those affected by homelessness as the winter draws in.

Sleep Out participants will spend the night at Ibrox either on the technical area pitch-side or in the stand (under cover) if the weather is wet and will get a small glimpse of the nightly conditions experienced by people in our city who are street homeless.

This year’s Big Ibrox Sleep Outs will be held on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 November and aim to highlight the issue of homelessness. 50% of the funds raised will benefit the work of Glasgow City Mission and Simon Community Scotland, with the other 50% of the profits supporting the Rangers Charity Foundation’s life-changing work in the community. If you can handle spending a cold winter’s night at Ibrox Stadium with just a sleeping bag for warmth, then sign up now and help this very worthy cause!

In the 2022/23 figures published by the Scottish Government in August, there were over 39,000 homeless applications, representing almost a 10% increase on the previous year, with the increased cost of living adversely affecting so many.

Our longstanding partnership with Glasgow City Mission is now in its 9th year. The charity continues to be committed to tackling rough sleeping and ensuring no one needs to sleep outside in Glasgow over the cold winter months.

Last year for the first time, Glasgow City Mission ran the Overnight Welcome Centre out of their building in Crimea Street. There is no accommodation at Crimea Street but the Overnight Welcome Centre supports those needing accommodation into an emergency bed in an appropriate location in the city. The funds raised will enable the Crimea Street Centre to operate through the night, every night, from 1 December to 31 March. Dinner will be served from 6:30pm until 8:00pm, after which the Overnight Welcome Centre team will be on site to help anyone who finds themselves at crisis point.

Trained staff will operate a safe, welcoming space and work closely with the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership out-of-hours service to access emergency accommodation for anyone who needs it.

Glasgow City Mission Fundraising Manager, Jack Geddes, said:

“We are delighted to confirm that this year, the funds raised from our Big Ibrox Sleep Outs will once again support the Overnight Welcome Centre.

“Last season, the Foundation’s donation of over £23,000 allowed Glasgow City Mission to operate the Overnight Welcome Centre for 23 full days. During this time, which was fully funded by the Foundation, over 100 people were supported at the Overnight Welcome Centre and did not have to sleep rough.

“We are extremely grateful to those who will be taking part, many of whom have slept out at Ibrox before and continue to support us. We look forward to meeting you on the night.”

Simon Community Scotland believes that everyone deserves a safe place to live and access to the support they need. The charity provides information, care, support, accommodation and homes to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The charity have a drop-in support hub, helpline, street team and emergency and supported accommodation sites in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire and also operate in Edinburgh and Perth. They saw a huge demand for services last year, supporting over 8,000 people and set to assist even more in 2023.

Murray Easton, Head of Fundraising and Communications said: “Everyone at Simon Community Scotland is delighted that we will benefit from the Big Ibrox Sleep Out this year.

“There are still too many people rough sleeping in and around Glasgow City Centre. Last week, our Street Team and Access Hub helped prevent a further 45 people from rough sleeping. Our Hub provided support to 490 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and our Helpline received 479 calls.

“There is a growing need for our support and expertise and we are extremely worried about how things could look this winter.”

“We’re doing all we can to provide information, care and support to people in need. On the streets, in our hubs, via our helplines, in our emergency and supported accommodation services, streetreads library, through our enhanced harm reduction approach and digital inclusion, through housing first, outreach support and our own SCS Homes.

“And we want to do more. Later this year we’ll open the first dedicated support centre for women experiencing homelessness in Glasgow.

Any help that Rangers fans can provide to both us and Glasgow City Mission will be greatly appreciated.”

The funds raised for Simon Community Scotland will allow the creation of and provision of Crisis Packs for the people they are supporting. Each pack could contain essential items such as; toiletries, food vouchers, a winter jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and gas and electricity top ups.

They also provide kettle packs to people who are homeless that are staying in city centre B&B’s or hotels with no kitchen facilities. They roughly cost £6 to make up, so every £6 raised will make a real difference.

The remaining funds will support the Foundation’s life-changing work in the community, including our Christmas initiatives with vulnerable young and old people in the local area and providing assistance for young people with employability and work for important causes such as the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Connal Cochrane, Rangers Charity Foundation Director said:

“Thanks to supporters, previous Big Ibrox Sleep Outs have been hugely successful events that have done so much for people affected by homelessness in our city and raised over £315,000 in total for projects to date.

“It is a cause close to the hearts of our supporters and we are committed to playing our part in trying to end homelessness in the City of Glasgow as well as bring awareness to this important issue.”

The Foundation is delighted to announce that Rangers kit sponsor 32Red has again pledged its generous support to the Foundation and to every fan taking part in the Sleep Outs.

32Red will continue to kick-start every participant’s fundraising by donating their first £10 of sponsorship and will sponsor the fantastic hot breakfast provided for everyone in the morning after the event.

Fans taking part in the Big Ibrox Sleep Out will be asked to bring along warm clothing and a sleeping bag and the Foundation will provide hot soup and beverages in the evening as well as a hot breakfast in the morning.

As places are limited, we are asking all participants to raise a minimum of £100. Anyone who raises £150 or more will become a True Blue Hero and receive an exclusive medal and pin badge at a special reception at Ibrox presented by a First Team player.

Help us be a force for good in our city and sign up here to take part or e-mail rangerscharity@rangers.co.uk  for further information.

A registration fee of £20 per person is applicable. Participants must be over 16. Anyone between the ages 16 and 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

If you are unable to attend Ibrox but would like to take part in the Sleep Out from your own home then please email rangerscharity@rangers.co.uk.

SLEEPING BAG DONATIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED THIS YEAR