A charity has urged the North East business community to 'spend onenight changing lives' ahead of its busiest fundraising period of the year.
Since launching in Teesside back in 2013, CEO Sleepout has raised over £4.5m to combat homelessness and poverty across Britain.
In October, the charity will stage two major sleepouts in Sunderland and Darlington. The events are expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds for local causes dealing with the North East’s worsening homelessness crisis.
For CEO Bianca Robinson, it promises to be a busy – and very cold – period, with nine different sleepouts nationally between October and November.
However, she’s called on fundraisers to sign up for one of the two North East events to help the growing number of people in the region “on the brink” of homelessness.
“Over 300,000 people in the UK are currently homeless, and the cost-of-living crisis means many more are in grave danger of losing the roof over their heads,” said Bianca.
“In the North East, the situation is dire. The charities we assist and work on the frontline face unprecedented demand, often from people with jobs and young families to support.”
Recently, an investigation by CEO Sleepout cast a light on the full-scale of the North East’s problem.
Figures obtained by the charity via the Freedom of Information Act revealed that, in Newcastle, homelessness applications are up 36 per cent year-on-year while in Northumberland, requests for temporary accommodation have trebled in just two years.
Additionally, around 3,300 North East adults under the age of 24 are currently eligible for help due to either being homeless or facing the threat of it.
For perspective, that’s enough to fill Gateshead’s Glasshouse International Centre for Music twice over.
Against that backdrop, CEO Sleepout’s current message is stark and simple:
Nobody’s safe.
“Teachers, 999 workers, and NHS staff are among the professionals turning to food banks simply to feed their families. That’s frightening, as these are skilled people with careers that would have once given them complete security,” added Bianca.
“For the people we rely on to even be struggling to eat is a disgrace. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse rather than better, and it is often up to the third sector to try and fix it.”
And with winter edging nearer, Bianca hopes the public will again find it in them to help the region’s most vulnerable.
She’s urging people to either donate or, even better, grab a sleeping bag and brave a night under the stars. It may be uncomfortable, she admits, but it is unquestionably memorable – and has the power to help improve lives.
“There’s a reason people return every year to participate in our sleepouts, and it isn’t the conditions!” added Bianca.
“We can’t guarantee good weather, but the atmosphere is fantastic, and the stories you will hear will stay with you forever.
“And we can guarantee that the money raised will make a difference, supporting those who need it the most. Both the Sunderland and Darlington sleepouts are incredible events, and the more of us who take part, the more difference we can make.”
The Sunderland CEO Sleepout takes place at the Stadium of Light on November 7.
The Darlington CEO Sleepout takes place on November 18 at The Northern Echo Arena, in Mowden Park.
For more information, ceosleepout.co.uk