In 2017 Leeds Rhinos Foundation, St George’s Crypt and St Gemma’s Hospice came together to launch the ‘Leeds Big Sleep’ to raise money and awareness for the three Leeds-based charities.
Since that first fundraising event, thousands of pounds have been raised to support some of the most vulnerable people in the local community, but that isn’t where the benefits of the Big Sleep partnership ends and now, more opportunities are opening through the combined work between the organisations.
One collaboration that has been a big success has been Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s support of St George’s Crypt’s Growing Rooms project, which has seen one of the graduates from the course being offered a job opportunity with the Leeds Rhinos ground staff at AMT Headingley Stadium.
Gareth Cook, Head of Community and Engagement at Leeds Rhinos Foundation said it is rewarding to see how the partnership has evolved from a fundraising initiative to working more closely to support each organisation’s work.
“Leeds Rhinos Foundation came across the Growing Rooms programme through our work with St George’s Crypt and the Leeds Big Sleep,” explained Cook. “It is a course which lasts around 12-15 months and it works with people who are suffering from alcohol or substance dependency. It’s a step in their lives to support them in getting sober and on the road to being active members of society.
“After attending a meeting with St George’s Crypt we were introduced to Andrew, who was ready to come out of the Growing Rooms programme and was looking for part-time work to keep occupied. An opportunity then came up for him to work with the grounds team at Leeds Rhinos and he has been absolutely brilliant in the role. He has put a lot of hard work in and deserves the job he has now got with the club.
“At Leeds Rhinos Foundation our motto is changing lives through the power of sport and we hope with Andrew that is what we have done. We have given him an opportunity that he may not have had. That started with St George’s Crypt and we hope he is the first of many that work with the Rhinos or our partners.”
Speaking about how Growing Rooms and the job role with Leeds Rhinos have helped change his life Andrew said: “I went into Growing Rooms as a way of getting somewhere to live, but by doing the other things they offer it has helped me gain a bit of structure in my life and helped my confidence along with the ability to be fully self-supporting. It has given me a foot up in life. I feel so settled here and it’s a good opportunity.
“I have a lot of gratitude for St George’s Crypt and the staff and support workers who have all been really encouraging.”
Ryan Golding, Head Groundsman at Leeds Rhinos added: “It’s been brilliant to see how Andrew has developed. He arrives early for work, never slacks and he is always jumping in with the team. We can visibly see how his confidence and self-belief have changed and definitely over the last few weeks he has come out of his shell more. It’s good to see his positive attributes increasing. I am really pleased and proud that the club has been forward-thinking and worked with St George’s Crypt and I think it has benefited all involved.”
The seventh Big Sleep will take place on 23rd November at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium. Hundreds of volunteers will sleep out on the terraces of the rugby stadium and all money raised will go to support the work of Leeds Rhinos Foundation, St George’s Crypt and St Gemma’s Hospice. To sign up volunteers need to create a fundraising page visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/leedsbigsleep2023. Groups of friends, work colleagues and teams are all welcome to attend and will be joined by staff and supporters of all three charities.