Plans for new SleepOut event announced

Plans for a new fundraising and awareness event SleepOut, have been announced by Gloucestershire charity Caring for Communities and People (CCP). The event will see up to 100 leading business figures sleep “rough” within the grounds of Gloucester Rugby Club on Wednesday 10th October 2018, which is World Homeless Day.

The CCP SleepOut is an event to raise awareness of the issues facing rough sleepers in the county whilst raising funds to help CCP tackle the problem by preventing homelessness and supporting those who are already homeless into sustainable accommodation. Each of the participants will challenge themselves to raise at least £1,000 to rough sleep in as genuine conditions as possible and go to work the next day as normal.

Cordell Ray, Chief Executive of CCP commented: “We are hugely excited about this new event. By gathering together high-profile business leaders in this way, we plan to highlight the plight of the homeless and give those participating just a taste of what it is like to have to sleep rough. When we came up with the idea for this event, it seemed only fitting that we coincide it with World Homeless Day with its aim of drawing attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved. SleepOut as an event has the potential to raise a very substantial sum of money that will go towards our work in preventing homelessness and supporting those who are already homeless.”

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership is one of a number of Gloucestershire business leaders who have already pledged their support. “When CCP approached me with the idea I had no hesitation in agreeing to take part. Even one person being homeless is one too many and anything we can do to highlight their plight has to be a good thing. CCP are doing some amazing work preventing homelessness and the money we raise will I am sure be put to very good use. Whilst you cannot fully replicate what it is like to sleep rough in an exercise like this, it will be interesting to see how we all cope the day after the SleepOut going about a normal working day”.

Even before launching the event, news of it had spread and over a dozen business leaders have already signed up to take part. CCP are encouraging others interested in taking part to get in touch. More information about the event can be found on the SleepOut section of the CCP website – www.ccp.org.uk/appeal/ccp-sleepout

CCP are also keen to hear from businesses that might want to get involved by sponsoring the event. Cordell Ray outlined why businesses might want to be involved:
“SleepOut represents a unique opportunity for businesses to associate themselves with a high-profile event and put their brand in front of a very select audience. We will be working hard to ensure that any business that sponsors gets a good return on their investment. The sponsorship will underwrite the costs of the event and any surplus will add to the proceeds that go towards the work we do with the homeless”.

In the build up to SleepOut and World Homeless Day CCP will also be looking to showcase the excellent work that other organisations do in the county to help the homeless.

The inaugural World Homeless Day was marked on 10th October 2010. The concept for the day emerged from online discussions between people working to respond to homelessness from various parts of the world. The day is now marked on every continent apart from Antartica. The purpose of World Homeless Day is to draw attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness.

CCP are a Cheltenham based charity that provides a wide range of services for the disadvantaged. Founded by Michael Ratcliffe in 1989, the charity prevents homelessness, strengthens families and promotes independence.

https://www.ccp.org.uk