man lies sleeping

Host Your Own Sleep Out

For over 20 years we've been sleeping out - whether sleeping in football stadiums or school playgrounds - raising money to end youth homelessness and changing attitudes one night at a time. Register to host your own Sleep Out and we'll be in touch to support you in your organising and fundraising.

Register now

Whether it's your theatre group, sports club, colleagues or students, who will join you in your Sleep Out?

Sleep Out: A challenge for you, a future for young people.

By hosting your own Sleep Out, you’re doing more than just fundraising, you’re taking a meaningful stand in solidarity with the thousands of young people who face homelessness every year.

What is a Sleep Out?

Over 118,000 young people in the UK face homelessness—but together, we can change this. By giving up your bed for one night, you’re taking on a challenge that pushes you out of your comfort zone, raising vital funds and helping to ensure no young person has to face homelessness alone. Sleep Out isn’t about replicating homelessness; it’s about taking meaningful action to help end it for good.

How do I Host my Own Sleep Out?

  1. Decide who you will organise your Sleep Out with: Who will be joining you? Will it be your sports club, your theatre group or maybe your colleagues?
  2. Register your Sleep Out with us: Let us know you're planning on organising a Sleep Out and we'll be in touch with lots of different helpful organising and fundraising tips.
  3. Pick a date and a location: Have a look at our advice on Where to Sleep Out and How to Sleep Out Safely
  4. Check out our resource and activity pages: We have lots of resources to help with your fundraising and activities to do on the night to really make your event impactful and meaningful.
  5. Spread the word and start fundraising: Tell people about your Sleep Out and make sure to share with your local networks and on social media!
  6. Sleep Out! Bed down for an uncomfortable, but meaningful night and help us to say goodnight to youth homelessness.

If you have questions about how to Host Your Own Sleep Out, feel free to get in touch with our team at sleepout@centrepoint.org. 

Hold your own Sleep Out

Resources and Activities for your Sleep Out

FAQs

There are lots of places you could hold your Sleep Out, but it's crucial to make sure you stay safe and within the law. 

We do not advise people to Sleep Out on the streets or in an open public space without gaining the relevant permissions and without ensuring relevant safety measures are in place. 

Take a look at our Where could you Sleep Out page and our How to Sleep Out Safely page for further information or get in touch with us at sleepout@centrepoint.org for more advice.

You can hold your Sleep Out any time throughout the year, so plan it for a time that suits you. 

Remember if you plan your event from November through to February, you are likely to have colder and potentially wet weather, which you would need to consider in your plans.

Yes. In fact, we would recommend that you make sure you keep warm throughout the night. You can sleep inside too if you do not have a safe and private outdoor option available to you. 

Sleep Out is not here to replicate homelessness and rough sleeping, it's about understanding some of the challenges that homeless young people face. Many homeless young people will face nights in a range of places, for example moving between friends' sofas, night buses and parks.

This is your event and it is up to you how many people take part. Whether there are three people or 300 you can still Sleep Out and make a difference.

 

Yes. If you are under 18 and you would like to sign up, then a relevant adult/carer must fill out a consent form. Please get in touch with sleepout@centrepoint.org for further information. 

Head to our Activities and Resources pages to find lots of different activities you can run at your Sleep Out. Having different activities for people to get involved with is a great way to raise awareness of youth homelessness and the vital work Centrepoint is doing.

We love to come along to Sleep Outs where possible. As a small team we're not able to make all events, but please let us know you’d like us to speak and we will do our best to join you – especially if your event is virtual. Contact us at sleepout@centrepoint.org.

Everything you are able to raise will help us to help homeless young people. We would advise setting a fundraising target for each person taking part. When personalising your fundraising page online, include your target as it will encourage people to be extra generous.

There are lots of ways to promote your Sleep Out, through social media, emails, posters and of course speaking to people! You could also talk to your place of work to see if they will offer match funding. 

We can provide you with a selection of branded materials such as balloons, collection tins and buckets, Sleep Out hats, t shirts, bunting and even Sleep Out banners. 

All our other resources are digital, which you can download from our activities and resources pages, including posters and social media templates.

Yes, but you must include an ‘In Aid of Centrepoint’ Logo to make sure it is clear what you a raising funds for. Please email sleepout@centrepoint.org to receive the logo. Additionally you can visit our resources pages for downloadable templates.

We're not able to promote all external events, however if you tag us on social media, @CentrepointUK , we can share your fantastic efforts from the night. We love to see your photos, so please do share them with the Centrepoint team by emailing them to sleepout@centrepoint.org.

Your fundraising will go directly towards supporting young people who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, or have experienced homelessness.

£20 could pay for a counselling session for a young person, ensuring those experiencing a mental health crisis receive the vital support they need. 

£80 could pay for a study kit, including stationery and a backpack to help a young person succeed in education or work.  

£300 could pay for a laptop for a young person to support their learning and keep them connected. 

£500 could pay for 10 personal care kits which include a fresh set of clothes, shampoo, toothbrush and a clean towel for young people who left home with nothing. 

Group of adults lie on the floor in sleeping bags

Sleep Out guidance

Interested in holding your own Sleep Out but still a little unsure as to how to go about it? Read our handy 10-step guide for advice.

man lies in sleeping bag

Where can I Sleep Out?

We’ve had people hold Sleep Outs in all sorts of venues, whether it's in your school hall, a local youth centre, or even just your back garden!

Group of young people lie on floor in sleeping bags

How to Sleep Out safely

Your safety is more important to us than your fundraising. Common sense goes a long way, but there are a few additional things to consider when holding your own Sleep Out to ensure you keep yourself and others safe and within the law.

Read Sleep Out Stories

woman in sleeping bag sleeping on pillow

Helen’s experience: Hold Your Own Sleep Out

Helen* attended the first Bournemouth beach Hold Your Own Sleep Out run by Mark and his team in 2023. Read her experience of sleeping out for Centrepoint, her motivations behind taking part, and how she continues to champion it as a cause.

10 members of the Bellrock Group in purple Centrepoint T Shirts with collection buckets

Bellrock Group: Host Your Own Sleep Out

A group of colleagues from The Bellrock Group held a team Sleep Out on one of their own retail parks to take a stand for young people in their local community facing homelessness.

Supported by Nationwide

Supported by Nationwide

We are delighted to welcome Nationwide as our Headline Sponsor for Sleep Out! Nationwide is sponsoring Centrepoint’s Sleep Out to help raise funds and awareness, so we can put an end to youth homelessness.

Nationwide and Centrepoint