Business leaders and their teams from across the UK are being urged to join a national sleepout on Friday 7 October to raise money for leading charity Action for Children.
Formerly known as Byte Night, ‘Boycott Your Bed Live’ is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is being held in London, Leeds, Glasgow, and Belfast. Big names in the business world already signed up include Salesforce, Capita, Accenture, Civica and Burberry.
Funds raised by the annual event – over £13 million to date – go to making a significant difference to vulnerable children across the UK, making sure they have what they need for a safe and happy childhood – like warm clothes, hot meals and a proper bed, as well as mental health support and protection from neglect and abuse.
The charity’s senior staff will also brave the elements for the night, with CEO Melanie Armstrong sleeping out in London and managing director of children’s services, Dr. Tim O’Neill, bedding down in Leeds. Actors Jenny Agutter, Tamzin Outhwaite and Jess Hynes will be supporting the event in London.
Founder of the event, Ken Deeks MBE, said: ‘I’m so happy to see live sleepouts back after two years, and to still be able to support the fantastic work of the charity 25 years after I started Action for Children’s first sleepout event, Byte Night.
‘It’s devastating that after all these years the situation is only getting worse for vulnerable children, young people and families in the UK, with the effects of the cost-of-living crisis only beginning to show. Now more than ever, I urge everyone to do what you can to help this great cause.’
Events will kick off in the early evening on 7th October with networking opportunities before all the fundraisers head outside to bed down for the night. Locations across the UK are as follows:
London: Civica Southbank and Trinity Square Gardens
Leeds: Leeds Civic Hall and Millennium Square
Glasgow: The Renfield Training and Conference Centre, and Blythswood Square Gardens
Belfast: Stormont Estate
Locks Farmer, Action for Children’s managing director of fundraising, communications and policy, said: ‘We’d love as many businesses as possible to get involved in this year’s sleepout.
‘The last two years have been tough for everyone, but especially for the most vulnerable families in our communities. It’s these families who suffered disproportionately throughout the pandemic and who continue to do so as the cost-of-living crisis escalates.
‘With the help of the business community, Action for Children can continue its work across the UK to make sure children everywhere have the safe and happy childhood they deserve.’
For more information on how you can get involved in Boycott Your Bed Live, visit: boycottyourbed.co.uk
