Business ‘slumming it’ in support of Habitat

UK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS/SEPTEMBER 2012: Teams build their shelters at Shack Attack, Tunbridge Wells. Five teams built and slept overnight at Calverley Grounds, in shelters made from scavenged materials.

Shack Attack is a unique, fun outdoor event which challenges teams of four people to design and build their own make-shift shelter using only whatever scrap or donated materials they can find.

The teams are then challenged to camp out overnight in their shelters, experiencing, just for a moment, the hardship faced by millions of people around the world every day.

Ken Callaghan from Ignite IT said: “Ignite IT are delighted to be taking part in Habitat NI’s Shack Attack event.

“The team are really looking forward to the challenge of building our own shelter and sleeping in it over night.

“Shack Attack is a great opportunity to get a team together and get involved in a local event while raising vital funds for such a worthwhile cause.”

The event is open to everyone and is a great opportunity to get a group of friends together from work, sports clubs, church or the community and have a bit of fun while raising vital funds to support the work of Habitat NI.

Dianne Whyte, Corporate Relations Manager at Habitat NI said: “It’s great that a team from Ignite IT will be taking part in Shack Attack this May.

“Shack Attack is a brilliant way to raise awareness of the global need for decent housing as well as raising vital funds to support our work.

“It’s sure to be a great weekend with a bit of friendly competition between teams to build the best shack and be crowned the Shack Attack Champions.

“We are also encouraging companies to design a Shack that reflects their company or brand, the more creative and quirky the better.

“Taking part in Shack Attack will give people a sense of what life is like for the 1.6 billion people waking up in inadequate housing every day. Habitat has helped more than 4 million people have a safe, decent place to live but there is so much more to be done.”

Shack Attack will take place on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18 in Wallace Park, Lisburn. The event is open to everyone (over 16’s) and it’s free to take part.

Each team is challenged to raise sponsorship for example £1,235 will build a Habitat home in the developing world, £250 will raise a roof on a Habitat home and £500 will provide essential tools for 20 families. To sign up contact 9263 5635 or email [email protected]. If you can’t take part in Shack Attack, but still want to help to change lives, simply text SLUM70 with the amount £5 or £10 to 70070.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian housing movement dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and homelessness and to making shelter a matter of conscience and action.