Join us for a quiz, and make a real difference to a young person's life.

Yesterday it was reported that the number of rough sleepers in England has risen for the seventh year running. How many are young people, and what can be done to help them?

Byte Night is Action for Children’s biggest annual fundraiser. In 2017 over 1500 people spent the night exposed to the elements to raise money for some of the 83,000 homeless young people in the UK. With yesterday’s news that numbers of rough sleepers is on the rise, it brings into focus the need to help these people. It isn’t good enough that one of the world’s leading economies is witnessing a 15% year-on-year increase of people sleeping on our streets.

Often when you read a headline like that, you feel helpless. We’re increasingly hit with news regarding the state of the oceans, the levels of pollution in the atmosphere, and terror related crimes; you don’t know what positive impact you can have on the issues. Thankfully due to the work of Action for Children you can make a huge difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.

For over seven years I’ve supported Byte Night. It is an event that’s fun, and has a great spirit of community and you are rightly reminded about why you’re giving up your evening. A quick visit to www.bytenight.org.uk takes you to ‘Charlie’s Story’. Due to a family breakdown he found that he was asked to leave his home. Without the work of Action for Children he’d have fallen through the cracks in society. He was just 16 at the time, lacking the support to get the skills and help needed. Without help I doubt he would have had the confidence to move forward to a positive place in life, finding a home and work.

So what can you do to help in the face of yesterday’s headline? I’d urge you to visit the Byte Night website. Here at Harvey Nash we are also going to run a pub quiz. On the 20th of February we’re asking businesses to enter teams of six with the ￡10 enter (per person) going straight to this amazing and vital work. All we ask is that you come and join us for a fun evening, here more about Action for Children, and answer some questions.

To register a team please email [email protected] by the 2nd of February.