Shine a Light Night 2021

Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light Night, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy is taking place on Friday 15th October. Business leaders, companies, schools, and people all over Ireland will be sleeping out in their homes, gardens, or workplaces. Everyone will come together virtually from their sleep-out location to raise vital funds and stand in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness.

WLR's involvement in Shine a Light Night

Vinny and Aoibhin of WLR's Big Breakfast Blaa are taking part in the sleep-out. They both felt it was a small gesture to help with a big cause.

"I’m proud to be involved in Focus Ireland’s Shine a Light campaign this year. Homelessness in Ireland remains a very real and frightening possibility and, indeed, the reality for far too many families and hopefully, our taking part can help raise much-needed funds to help those who need it most," Vinny said.

Aoibhin agrees that it's a great initiative to be involved with. "Sleeping out for one night is such a small thing to do but we hope it will be effective in raising awareness of the issue of homelessness in this country. Listeners to The Big Breakfast Blaa can support this campaign through our Go Fund Me page"

How to Donate

You can donate to their fundraiser here.

The aim of Focus Ireland

Focus Ireland works with people experiencing homelessness as well as people who are at risk of homelessness. The aim is to try and prevent them from becoming homeless.

Some Stats

There are 8,212 people homeless in Ireland, 2,189 of which are children, and 953 are families.

To date, Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy have supported over 7,000 families (12,000 adults and children) and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from becoming homeless. It has also funded advice and information staff in Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Limerick.

Shine a Light Night is Focus Ireland’s largest annual fundraising initiative, and it is so important to keep their services going. Since the event began in 2012, it has raised over €7.1m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland.