Newcastle United Foundation is excited to confirm that the CEO Sleepout at St. James' Park will return in 2017, taking place on Thursday 9th March.
Tyneside executives, joined by Newcastle United Managing Director Lee Charnley, will once again raise funds for a range of remarkable homelessness charities when they sleep out for the night aiming to beat the fundraising efforts of last year's cohorts, who raised a staggering £80,000, making the Newcastle Sleepout the largest outside London.
Funds raised during the sponsored sleepout will be split between Newcastle United Foundation, Changing Lives and CEO Sleepout UK.
Newcastle United Foundation utilises the funds to support its Homeless Football team, as well as supporting community engagement programmes delivered in the community. Over 80 vulnerable young people and adults who are currently facing homelessness, recovering from drug and alcohol addiction or facing mental health issues participate in its weekly homeless football sessions. As part of the Foundation's ongoing relationship with England's Homeless FA, two participants had the opportunity to represent England in the Homeless World Cup last year.
The Foundation also encourages participants to get involved in their Employability programmes such as Talent Match and League Works to support their transition back into employment.
The funds raised during last year's CEO Sleepout event are helping Changing Lives provide guidance to people in crisis so that they avoid becoming homeless. Without their intervention and encouragement in addressing the financial issues, service users would have great difficulty navigating the solutions available to them, which ultimately would have resulted in them being evicted/becoming homeless.
Sarah Medcalf, Development Manager at Newcastle United Foundation, said: "We were completely overwhelmed by the level of support for last year's event and we're hoping that with the support of previous participants we can beat last year's phenomenal total. We're asking that anyone that took part asks someone else in their organisation to take over the mantle for 2017.
"We'd be delighted to see new faces too, as well as anyone who thinks they could brave the elements overnight at St. James' Park for a second time! The funds we raise help support our Homeless Football Team as well as our youth programmes which prepare young people for the transition to adulthood, particularly if they face barriers to education, training and employment."
Stephen Bell, Chief Executive of Changing Lives, added: "This will be the fourth CEO Sleepout in Newcastle and I encourage more business leaders to take part, helping us raise awareness and funds for the services needed here in the North East. In this period of austerity, which has hit some of the most disadvantaged in our community hardest, please join us in this challenge - let's beat London's record for the highest amount raised at a Sleepout."
Andy Preston, from CEO Sleepout, commented: "CEO Sleepout are really pleased to be working so closely with Newcastle United Foundation and Changing Lives again.
"CEO Sleepout Newcastle does incredible things for the community and connects businesses with the people of the North East."
