LONDON’S business leaders are being urged to step up and brave the cold to help the growing number of homeless people in the Capital.
Shock figures published last week revealed that over 172,000 children alone are now homeless in the UK. More than half of those are children in London living in temporary accommodation.
Now the annual CEO Sleepout event will be staged on November 24, with business leaders from across the Capital grabbing a bag to spend a night at Lord’s Cricket Ground with the aim of raising six-figure for local charities helping those experiencing poverty and homelessness.
One of those charities, Providence Row, has been helping Londoners for over 165 years and provides everything from hot meals to mental health support and employability and digital training.
For Michael Blakesley, the charity’s Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager, the situation on the street is only getting worse.
“The number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise, and we are supporting increasing numbers of first-time rough sleepers,” he revealed.
“We are also seeing more people returning to the streets after a period in accommodation, reflecting both the difficulty of sustaining tenancies and the ongoing mental health and addiction challenges many face.”
He said there has been “clear increase in complexity” in recent years, with many clients presenting with multiple and overlapping needs, from poor mental and physical health to trauma.
“The street drug environment has become more dangerous, with synthetic substances making recovery harder and more protracted,” added Michael.
“Our teams now provide more interventions per client, reflecting the depth and intensity of support needed.”
He said he hopes Providence Row can raise around £20,000 at the London CEO Sleepout, which is the national charity’s biggest and final fundraiser of the year.
Launched in the North East a decade ago, CEO Sleepout has raised over £5.5m nationally to support hundreds of frontline causes tackling homelessness and poverty.
This year, the charity has staged a record number of events across the UK, although the charity’s CEO sees little cause to celebrate.
“We shouldn’t still need to do this, but the reality is that more people are struggling than ever before,” said Bianca Robinson.
“When you join a CEO Sleepout, you’re sending a message of solidarity and showing that the business world cares about the most vulnerable in our society.”
With that in mind, CEO Sleepout has launched a new campaign aimed directly at London’s business leaders.
Called ‘At Your Doorstep’, the campaign acts as a blunt wake-up call to the county’s business community to highlight how they are uniquely positioned to transform lives for the better.
“Homelessness is no longer hidden. It’s everywhere. It’s on our commute, outside our offices, in our communities – it’s at our doorstep,” said Bianca.
“That is what the ‘At Your Doorstep’ campaign is trying to reinforce. While businesses and entrepreneurs have been hit in recent years by the likes of the National Insurance hike, they remain the wealth creators. And with that comes responsibility.
“And you don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference – you just need a sleeping bag, one night, and a big enough heart to help.”
One person who is helping the charity this year is entrepreneur Ben Morton, a leadership trainer and coach. Ahead of this year’s fundraiser, he grabbed a sleeping bag and took to the streets – recording a time-lapse video of his experience.
“People walked past me without a second glance, so to think that this is reality for thousands of British people each day is harrowing,” said Ben, who started his career in the Army.
“During my time in the forces, I’d been used to ‘sleeping rough’, but this experience gave me a different perspective and for those few hours, I just felt invisible.
“But in 2025, nobody should feel that way.
“And while we are all feeling the pinch in business, we are still in a special position of privilege where we can create jobs, wealth – and change.
“Homelessness really is at our doorstep, so we need to pull together and be the changemakers.”
Participants at the CEO Sleepout will brave the cold for a night outdoors. Money raised from the event will benefit over a dozen causes supporting Londoners, including Scots Care, Walking with the Wounded, Only a Pavement Away, Change Please and Depaul UK.
And while the conditions are typically tough, Bianca said the experience of a sleepout is unforgettable – and one that shifts mindsets and save lives.
“There’s always laughter and while it’s cold, people come back every year because it matters,” she added.
“If you’ve done well in business, this is your chance to do good in the world. Join us in Bristol for one night that could change everything.”
