Registrations For Byte Night 2012 Open

Registrations for Byte Night 2012 are now open, with organisers hoping to generate more than £900,000 and recruit 1,000 sleepers in the fifteenth edition of the event, which takes place on Friday 5 October.

The IT industry’s annual sleep out has raised £4.3 million since its inception and hopes to raise more money for Action for Children, which combats youth homelessness and neglect. Teams and individuals from the IT industry sleep out of doors for one night, raising money through sponsorship.

Fifteenth Anniversary

“Byte Night 2012 marks the culmination of 14 years of generosity, commitment and most of all, sleepless nights,” said Ken Deeks, founder of  Byte Night and a director of the Amber Group. “Who would have thought, on that cold October night in 1998, that fifteen years later, not only would we still be going, but that we would be growing. Everyone who has taken part over the years has made a real difference to the lives of so many vulnerable young people.”

The event is supported by some of the UK’s largest companies and a number of figures from BT, Salesforce.com, Ernst & Young and RBS will give up their beds for the night to sleep outside. Interested participants can register on the official website.

“Technology is now more important, more visible and more intrinsic than it’s ever been. But with Byte Night, we’re able to show just how positive a difference it can make,” said board member and CIO of International Banking at RBS, Alastair Brown. “This will be the fifth year I have slept out, and it’s something I wholeheartedly believe in. Despite the discomfort of the night itself, I’m looking forward to joining my friends and colleagues for Byte Night 2012 and urge anyone who hasn’t taken part, to sign up this year.”

Last year’s Byte Night saw 800 people, including our own TechWeekEurope editor Peter Judge, raise £650,000 by sleeping outdoors at four locations in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Reading.

“The support of the IT community has been critical in allowing us to provide vital support and safe and secure accommodation to vulnerable children and young people at risk of homelessness,” commented Andrew Harris, director of fundraising and appeals at Action for Children. “To think the campaign has been running for fifteen years is truly incredible and is testament to the passion and generosity of the technology and business community.”

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