The YMCA Cheltenham Sleep Easy Challenge

Since its beginnings in 2010, YMCA Sleep Easy has seen over 7,000 people sleep rough in order to raise over £1.5 million for local YMCA services that assist young people in rebuilding their lives.

Sleep Easy is a unique challenge – offering an insight into the challenge of sleeping rough and a chance for you to help change lives. You can take part by yourself or join a team with family, friends or work colleagues. The event takes place on the grounds of the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre

“In 2025, I signed up to take part in my first SLEEP EASY challenge. The team were so welcoming and it felt good to be part of this incredible fundraiser. There was a quiz, plenty of encouragement and even a warm bacon butty in the morning. It was tough but so worth it to know I was helping vulnerable people in county.” – YMCA Cheltenham Employee

Registering for SLEEP EASY 2026 couldn’t be easier!

1. Register your place by clicking RESERVE MY PLACE below
2. Create a sponsorship page on the just giving website where your friends and family can sponsor you for sleeping out (Don’t worry, we’ll help you set it up)
3. On Friday 24th April @ 7pm join the rest of the team to design and build your cardboard box to sleep in for the night
4. A warm breakfast on the house and a huge sense of achievement as you pat yourself on the back.     

The BIG Shelter Build

Every year YMCA Cheltenham invite local primary schools from across the county to take part in our BIG SHELLTER BUILD.

This challenge is unique to YMCA Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Primary Schools.  Our BIG Shelter Build gives Year 5 & 6 pupils the chance to come together and make a real difference to those experiencing homelessness in the county.  On the morning of our SLEEP EASY challenge, schools are invited to the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre to design and make the cardboard shelters for the YMCA Cheltenham team to sleep in. Each shelter is designed with a specific staff member in mind and takes inventive problem solving, teamwork, and a lot of imagination to meet their requirements . Each child who takes part receives a goody bag and a certificate.

This event is a firm favourite with our local schools.

“The experience exceeded our expectations. It really opened the children’s eyes to the reality of homelessness. The staff were fantastic at engaging the children in the activity. The children loved that a grown up was actually going to use their shelter for the night. It was really interactive and they loved meeting the person who was sleeping in their shelter.” – Headteacher, Linden Primary School 

“I cannot express my gratitude enough for how much the children relished, learnt from and loved this trip. It really inspired them!” – Year 6 Teacher, Christ Church Primary School

“The Shelter Build was AMAZING! We came last year, and I begged the teacher if I could go again with the children as it was so much fun!” – Teaching Assistant, Rowanfield Junior School