‘AT YOUR DOORSTEP’: BUSINESS LEADERS UNITE TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS IN LONDON WITH CEO SLEEPOUT CHALLENGE
Business Leaders Urged to Swap Boardrooms for Sleeping Bags to Tackle London’s Homelessness Crisis
As the number of homeless people in the capital reaches alarming new levels, London’s business community is being called upon to swap boardrooms for sleeping bags in a powerful act of solidarity.
The CEO Sleepout London, taking place on 24 November at Lord’s Cricket Ground, invites senior executives to spend a night outdoors to raise funds and awareness for people affected by homelessness and poverty. The event, which has already raised more than £5.5 million nationally since its launch a decade ago, will benefit a range of frontline organisations supporting vulnerable Londoners.
Among them is Providence Row, a charity that has supported homeless people in London for over 165 years. Its Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager, Michael Blakesley, said the situation on the streets has become increasingly desperate.
“The number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise, and we are supporting increasing numbers of first-time rough sleepers,” he explained. “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 added that homelessness has become more complex in recent years, with clients now facing multiple overlapping problems. “The street drug environment has become more dangerous, with synthetic substances making recovery harder and more protracted,” he said. “Our teams now provide more interventions per client, reflecting the depth and intensity of support needed.”
This year, Providence Row hopes to raise £20,000 from the London CEO Sleepout — the national charity’s largest and final fundraiser of the year.
Despite the event’s success across the UK, CEO Sleepout’s Chief Executive, Bianca Robinson, says the growing scale of need leaves little room for celebration. “We shouldn’t still need to do this, but the reality is that more people are struggling than ever before,” she said. “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.”
In a bid to rally more leaders to the cause, the charity has launched a bold new campaign titled ‘At Your Doorstep’, highlighting the visible presence of homelessness across London.
“Homelessness is no longer hidden. It’s everywhere – on our commute, outside our offices, in our communities,” Robinson said. “That’s what the ‘At Your Doorstep’ campaign is trying to reinforce. While businesses and entrepreneurs have faced challenges of their own, they remain the wealth creators. And with that comes responsibility. 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.”
Among those answering the call is Ben Morton, a leadership trainer and former Army officer, who recorded a time-lapse video of his night on the streets. “People walked past me without a second glance, so to think that this is reality for thousands of British people each day is harrowing,” he said. “During my time in the forces, I’d been used to ‘sleeping rough’, but this experience gave me a different perspective. For those few hours, I just felt invisible.
“But in 2025, nobody should feel that way. 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.”
Funds from the London CEO Sleepout will be distributed among several local organisations, including Scots Care, Walking with the Wounded, Only a Pavement Away, Change Please, and Depaul UK.
Robinson said the event offers a rare chance for business leaders to connect directly with an issue that often feels distant. “There’s always laughter and while it’s cold, people come back every year because it matters,” she said. “If you’ve done well in business, this is your chance to do good in the world.”
For more information or to register, visit ceosleepout.co.uk/london.
