Byte Night helps turn young Welsh lives around

Welsh teenager urges Welsh businesses to sleep out for Action for Children

A young Welsh woman who turned her life around with help from Action for Children’s Families First Wellbeing Project in Caerphilly has urged Welsh businesses to sleep out on October 5th as part of the UK’s largest sponsored sleep-out, Byte Night, to help prevent youth homelessness.

The aim of the project is to support families who suffer with low motivation, low mood, anxiety, depression, social isolation or traumatic life experiences.

Lauren Higgins, turned to the project when her family life suffered. She said: ‘Life became very difficult for me as I was suffering from depression and severe anxiety due to a very challenging family life and I genuinely didn’t know what to do or where I’d end up.

‘Thankfully, the wellbeing project helped me with the tools to deal with my issues and how relate to my family. In a year, I have seen my confidence soar and self-esteem recover to the extent that I am now working and enjoying life again. My relationship with my partner and children is far better and we are all making great progress.’

Becky James Service Co-ordinator at the Families First Wellbeing Project, said: ‘It’s been a pleasure working with Lauren and all the young families we support. We help the whole family and we’ve seen how powerful this work can be by how far Lauren has come with her family.’

‘It was great to be with her and the launch event earlier in the year and so important that Byte Night supporters see how their money can make a huge difference to young lives.’

Byte Night Wales board member and business development consultant, Tommy Guy, said: ‘While Byte Night is certainly a lot of fun and a great networking opportunity for Welsh business people, never far from our minds are the young people like Lauren that come to Action for Children when their lives are at an extremely low ebb or falling apart.

‘These amazing projects help families deal with their complex issues and make them believe they can turn things around and make it happen. It’s always humbling to hear first-hand the difference Byte Night and Action for Children makes and it’s not too late to get involved and play your part in an amazing night.’

 With over 100 people from Welsh businesses set to sleep outside the Principality Stadium in October for Byte Night, Lauren added: ‘The Wellbeing Project team helped me with so much and I’m really getting my life back on track. I hope as many people get involved in Byte Night as possible and enjoy their night as well as raising as much money as they can. The money genuinely helps those, like me, who need it most in our communities.’

If you would like to find out more about Byte Night, please visit bytenight.org.uk or contact the Byte Night team on bytenight@actionforchildren.org.uk