Sleeping Out

Towards the end of February, between the 21st and 27th, around 1000 Amnesty and STAR activists will be taking to the streets with their sleeping bags and spending an uncomfortable night on the pavement. We’re doing this to highlight the plight of asylum seekers who are refused the right to work in the UK and, as a result, forced into poverty and destitution.

The groups sleeping out will also be asking their MPs to get behind proposals for more sensible rules on permission to work for asylum seekers. Specifically those who have been waiting for more than six months for their cases to be concluded, or have been refused asylum but cannot be returned, should be allowed to work.

Allowing these vulnerable people to work would reduce the burden on the taxpayer and allow them to support themselves and their families while contributing to the economy.

You can grab everything you need to hold your own sleep out here, or find your nearest sleepout on the map below and join them (even just to take them a flask of hot tea!).

If you can’t make it to one of the events, don’t worry, there’s plenty of warmer ways to support the sleepouts:

1. Take action and email your MP asking them to support the declaration.

2. Take a look at the map below to find your nearest sleep out and send them a message of support via Facebook or Twitter

3. Join the Sleep Out Facebook group

View Sleepouts in a larger map

We’ll also be braving the cold in London and joining our courageous street sleepers, you can follow our adventure on Twitter on the night.