Photo credit Punch Pubs & Co
Punch Pubs & Co have become the first hospitality business to join forces with Only A Pavement Away and host a company sleepout event to raise essential funds which will directly support people getting back into work.
35 employees took part in Punch’s Sleep Out to Help Out event, which was held in the car park and beer garden of one of their Management Partnerships pubs, The Griffins Head in Nottingham.
On Monday, 11th March, colleagues from across the Punch business, including their entire Executive team, teamed up with Only A Pavement Away Founder and CEO Greg Mangham to settle outside and sleep without shelter.
Despite the rain, all participants made it through the night and raised an incredible £6000 for the charity, with donations still coming in.
Punch Pubs & Co CEO Clive Chesser said: “I’m incredibly proud of the funds we have raised to support the invaluable work Greg and his team at Only A Pavement Away Pavement Away do for those who have fallen on hard times.
“It was humbling for us to experience the feeling of sleeping without shelter, but it is only a fraction of what so many people endure night after night. For us, this was one rainy night in March, knowing we had the privilege and luxury of having a home to go to. It reinforced to us all the unacceptable degree of inhumanity of homelessness, particularly in 2024, however the work of Ony A Pavement Away reminds us that this is a vicious cycle which can be broken with the right intervention. By spending this night outside, I know that we were able to make a real difference to others as the funds raised go straight to the grants which the charity offers.
“We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with the Only A Pavement Away team and championing their brilliant work.”
Only A Pavement Away was founded by Greg Mangham and his wife Gill. Together, they have worked tirelessly to grow a team of hospitality industry representatives who believe that everyone deserves the chance to find and forge a career.
The money raised by Punch will have a huge impact and will support approximately 20 people through their journey to get into work, which will go directly into the charity’s Grants Account.
Greg said about the event: “It never dawned on Gill and me when we started Only A Pavement Away that we’d have the support of a company like Punch.
“Monday night was unbelievable that so many people gave up their time to both support us and experience the rigours of sleeping rough.
“Punch should be so proud that they are the first hospitality business to hold a sleepout to support our Members. The culture Clive Chesser has embedded into his team and how well he is seen and respected is an example to any team leader, big or small.”
