Member Article

Business leaders in London urged to support homelessness initiative

CEOs and business leaders across London are preparing to spend a night sleeping outside to highlight the growing issue of homelessness.

The initiative, which is run by national charity CEO Sleepout, sees senior figures sleep under the stars to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness. The sleepout in London, which is due to take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on November 21st, will be the seventh event in the city and is sponsored by the Warwick Business School at The University of Warwick.

Chief executive of CEO Sleepout Bianca Robinson said: “Homelessness and ‘sleeping rough’ has become normalised in London – and yet there is nothing normal about being homeless in a modern, wealthy society.

“We are so used to seeing people surviving day in and day out on the strand, Charing Cross, Piccadilly and at every tube station, that we have become desensitised to the horror of homelessness.”

Speaking about the charity, Bianca added: “At CEO Sleepout, we aim to pull the powerful voices of business together to demand change: a long-term vision to end homelessness and to make sure individuals, with the same hopes, dreams, talents, stories as ourselves, have a secure, affordable roof over their heads.

“London’s business leadership community has the power and an opportunity to use their voice to shine a light on the issue, and lead from the front when it comes to compassion and care for some of the most marginalised people in our communities.”

Catriona Innes, commissioning director for Cosmopolitan magazine, is taking part in the event. She said: “Homelessness has always been an issue I care a lot about.

“There is a lot of misconception and judgement surrounding those who don’t have a place to call home. Many people are not able to see that those who are homeless didn’t ‘bring it upon themselves’ but are instead faced with a series of circumstances that led them to this place, and what they need is compassion and help to get back on their feet again.

Speaking about the funding CEO Sleepout provides, Catriona said: “CEO Sleepout’s fundraising is great as it supports smaller, more grassroots charities, and you can really see the difference the money makes and where it goes.”

Another volunteer at the event in Lord’s Cricket Ground is Nuria Cantera, CEO of Manto Housekeeping. It will be Nuria’s second sleepout and this year she hopes to raise more than the £2,500 she raised last year.

Nuria said: “After taking part last year, I have encouraged many people to sign up this year. There is nothing like listening to the real stories and experiences of people who are homeless.”

CEO Sleepout has so far raised over £450,000 at the London events and organisers are hoping to reach £600,000 to support charities across the city.

One charity set to benefit from this event is Only A Pavement Away, whose purpose is to provide pathways out of homelessness and crime into purposeful employment within the hospitality industry.

Founded by hospitality industry consultant, Greg Mangham & his wife Gill, its bespoke hospitality jobs board – which is free of charge – has been developed to help streamline and alleviate the burden of the processes that employers go through in employing people who are struggling to reconnect with society.

Greg Mangham, founder & CEO, said: “As we mark our fourth birthday, we are delighted to have placed over 260 people back into employment, adding an approximate value of £5m to the economy, and completely transforming the lives of so many people.

“Our ambition is to place 1,000 people back into work by June 2024, and we are on track to do so. The funds raised from the CEO Sleepout event are vital in helping us achieve our ambitions and plans over the next 5 years, and we are very grateful for the support.”

Since CEO Sleepout was founded in 2013, events have raised £3.2 million, with funds being donated to charities across the UK.

To find out more, search ‘CEO Sleepout’ online.

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