Over 20 leading lights from Leeds businesses and public-sector organisations traded the comfort of their beds for a night sleeping rough at Emerald Headingley Stadium on Monday night raising money for charity’s helping to tackle homelessness in the city.
Organised by CEO Sleepout UK and Leeds based charity’s Leeds Rhinos Foundation and St George’s Crypt, the Emerald Stadium sleepout was the first stadium sleepout event hosted in the city to fight the issue of homelessness.
Representatives from several businesses and organisations in Leeds took part in the event including Leeds City Council Chief Executive Tom Riordan, West Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Paul Money and Leeds Building Society CEO Peter Hill.
Bianca Robinson from CEO Sleepout said:
"We'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone who gave up their bed and braved the cold last night in order to help others with over 20 of Leeds' business and community leaders joined together to raise awareness and money for CEO Sleepout and two charities that do great work, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and St George's Crypt.
“We know that this experience doesn't come close to what it's like to be homeless, but giving up a night of comfort to help others is a great thing. With the awareness that has been raised from this, the first ever CEO Sleepout to be held in Leeds, we're hoping an even bigger group of business leaders will take part in 2018.”
Through the participants fundraising efforts so far, the event has raised over £16,000 and is still rising as people continue to make donations to JustGiving accounts set up on behalf of the people taking part.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Education and Events Support Co-ordinator Will Smithson said:
“To get over 20 executives and business leaders to our first sleepout event has been a real success and with money raised so far, the night will make a significant difference to all three charities going forward.
“We have had fantastic feedback from those who took part and some interest in expanding the event for 2018, so there is lots of potential for this event to grow and create more awareness and funds for people in need in the coming years."
CEO of St George’s Crypt Chris Fields said:
“My colleagues and I have just completed the sleepout at Headingley stadium which has been a great event. Despite the cold, the camaraderie was great with the people taking part.
“On top of some fantastic funds raised, we have met lots of people who really want to help people in Leeds who are homeless, many of whom have the ability to make things happen which is another a great outcome, so we look forward to taking part again next year.”
If you would like to support the event, search for #CEOSleepoutLeeds on Twitter to see all social media posts from the event with links to fundraising pages.
For more information on the CEO Sleepout Charity and who took part in the Emerald Stadium Sleepout visit http://www.ceosleepoutuk.com/