Aberdeen FC’s manager, Derek McInnes, will swap the dugout for Social Bite’s sleepout this December when he takes to the stage to read participants a bedtime story. The event, taking place in the city’s Duthie Park on Saturday December 8 will see thousands of people sleep out in the cold to raise money for the city’s homeless.

McInnes will read a bedtime story of his choosing to the attendees before they unroll their sleeping bags and bed down for the night. At the same time in Edinburgh, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh will read a story he’s written for the event and in Glasgow, award-winning author Loki will do the same.

Other Aberdeen personnel getting behind the event will be Chairman of the club Stewart Milne CBE, the club’s Director Duncan Skinner and first team player Mark Reynolds who will all take part in the sleepout as participants.

Organised by Scottish charity Social Bite, the Aberdeen event is one of four Sleep in the Park sleepouts taking place in different Scottish cities on the same night. In total, it is hoped that 12,000 people will sleep out in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, raising £6million.

Money raised will be used to help combat homelessness and will be invested locally to support homeless people make the transition to traditional housing.
Amy Macdonald and KT Tunstall will play at each of the four events and will start their night’s journey in Aberdeen.

Celebrating 40 years as a live performer, Eddi Reader will headline Sleep in the Park in Aberdeen’s Duthie Park. As the front woman of Fairground Attraction she topped the British charts with #1 single Perfect and has released 10 solo albums, most recently this year’s Cavalier co-produced by her husband John Douglas (Trashcan Sinatras).
Joining Eddi on the bill at Duthie park will be Kris Drever (Lau) who celebrated a decade of critical and commercial success by winning both BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of The

Year 2017 and Best Original Track 2017 (for his song If Wishes Were Horses) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Also announced for Aberdeen (with more names to come) will be Edinburgh’s Adam Holmes & The Embers. Adam has been a Celtic Connections Young Traditional Musician finalist, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee and Scottish Traditional Music Award winner.

Describing his reasons for supporting Sleep in the Park, Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes said: “As a club at the heart of our community it is an honour to have been asked to read the bedtime story at the Social Bite Sleep in the Park event.

“Everyone at Aberdeen FC are all determined to play their part in helping to end homelessness in Aberdeen and it will be a pleasure to read to all the participants before they settle down for the night.”

Aberdeen player Mark Reynolds said: “I’m always up for a challenge so when the Chairman suggested I participate alongside himself and Duncan Skinner I was keen to play my part.

“As a player who has been associated with this club and city for almost a decade I know the generosity of spirit Aberdonians have and I’m sure there will be no shortage of people willing to brave a cold winter’s night and sleep out in Duthie Park.”

Social Bite’s co-founder Josh Littlejohn MBE said: “It is fantastic to have Aberdeen FC so supportive of our mission to end homelessness in Aberdeen. With the chairman Stewart Milne, director Duncan Skinner and defender Mark Reynolds all sleeping out it shows the club’s commitment to the issue.

“There can’t be many events where the manager of a professional football team will read you a bedtime story but Sleep in the Park in Aberdeen will be an event like no other. I’m looking forward to finding out what story Derek will choose to bring warmth to the thousands of participants getting ready for a long night in the cold.

“The people of Aberdeen are really getting behind Sleep in the Park and showing that they believe that the issue of homelessness isn’t one that should be ignored. With a concerted effort, homelessness can be overcome and the money raised from the event will go directly to support local initiatives to help those in Aberdeen in a structured way.”

Last year saw 8,000 people come together in Edinburgh’s city centre on the coldest night of the year, with some of Scotland’s most respected sports people, religious leaders and political figures all enduring the freezing temperatures to raise a total of £4million for the cause.

Members of the public can join Sleep in the Park 2018 by committing to raise £100. Businesses can sponsor the event by signing up a team of five with a minimum fundraising commitment of £3,000.

To find out more about taking part visit www.sleepinthepark.co.uk