Want to know more about taking part in Sleep Out London or Manchester? Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the big night!
Doors will open in the evening, we will confirm exact timings closer to the event. Please bring everything you need with you as there’s no re-entry to the venue.
An exact itinerary will be shared before the event. Usually Sleep Out consists of:
- Arrival, bag drop, and registration
- Followed by activities and talks
- Lights out for the night at around 11pm
- Lights on and breakfast
- Everyone will vacate the venue by 8am the next morning
You’ll be able to take part in a range of activities and listen to a talk designed to give you deeper insight into youth homelessness and Centrepoint’s vital work. It’s a great chance for you to connect with staff, learn more about how we support young people and the challenges they face every day, and discover how you can get involved.
Previous year’s activities have included:
- Bag packing activity – As a young person facing homelessness, you may only have a matter of moments to pack your bag before you have to leave your house and can't turn back. What do you bring?
- Centrepoint cinema – Watch young people’s stories of overcoming challenges and remember what we’re doing it all for.
- Talk – the talk at our Manchester Sleep Out 2025 featured frontline staff and a member of our policy team. They explored the latest data on Youth Homelessness and the practical steps needed to end it.
You can take part in as many or as little of the activities as you like throughout the evening. Plus, there will be a raffle with fantastic prizes!
At around 11 p.m., the lights go out, and the real challenge begins. You'll settle in for the night of discomfort. Don't worry—our team will be on hand all night, whether you have questions or just need a warm drink to keep you going.
Kit List:
- A sleeping bag
- A roll mat or yoga mat, if you want to add a little bit of comfort under your sleeping bag- you will be sleeping on hard floor so please bring necessary items if you need more support
- A pillow
- Thermals, warm layers, gloves and hats! (If you hit your fundraising target, you'll be able to pick up a Sleep Out hat on the night!)
- Comfortable clothing
- Thick socks
- An eye mask
- Toothbrush and toothpaste, and any other toiletries
- A fully-charged phone with a torch. We will have some lights on overnight so you can find your way to the toilets
- A power bank if necessary, as there will be no power sockets available for charging
- A reusable drinks cup or water bottle if you have one
Please be aware that there will not be a designated locked area to leave your things, so we would advise not to bring valuables, or to bring a smaller bag to keep valuables on you at all times.
There will be lots of hot drinks on hand throughout the night, including teas, coffees and hot chocolates to keep you warm, as well as soft drinks and light snacks, all free of charge.
Gluten free, vegan and dairy free options will be available. Please let us know if you have any allergies.
London: Come in via the main entrance of Somerset House from the Strand. Cross the courtyard and enter the Seamans Hall where you'll see signs for Sleep Out. The closest tube station is Embankment, you can find out more about getting to Somerset House here.
Manchester: Projekts Skatepark is a 5-10 minute walk from Manchester Picadilly Train Station. There is no parking so we recommend taking pubic transport or taxis. Find out more about getting to the skatepark on their website here.
Absolutely! Our Sleep Outs welcome groups of all sizes. We have a mix of activities so that you can enjoy the event on your own, in pairs or groups. There’ll also be plenty of space for you to sleep next to your group as well.
If you’re coming along with groups of four or more, email us at sleepout@centrepoint.org for our group discount code.
Unfortunately we can't allow pets.
Service dogs are welcome. If you would like to bring a service dog, please get in touch with us at sleepout@centrepoint.org.
Our venues are safe and secure areas – but they may get a little chilly and noisy as you will be mostly outside and exposed to the elements, so please prepare accordingly.
For health and safety reasons, you will not be sleeping on public streets and there will be on-site security.
You will be sleeping in a safe and secure venue for a number of reasons:
Homelessness comes in many forms
It’s important to recognise that not all homelessness is rough sleeping and not having a roof to sleep under. In fact, 'hidden homelessness' makes up a large proportion of young people experiencing homelessness in the UK. Hidden homelessness can involve sofa surfing, staying with different relatives or staying with different friends.
Health and Safety
By Sleeping Out in an enclosed, safe venue, we can make sure to carry out the necessary risk assessments and provide the relevant security to maintain the safety of participants.
Replication
Sleep Out does not intend to directly replicate rough sleeping. Instead, we aim to provide a very small glimpse into just some of the challenges faced by young people facing homelessness. The evening aims to raise awareness through activities and informative talks, as well as providing insight into Centrepoint's work.
We have an 11+ age limit. Anyone under 18 has to be accompanied by an adult, and if you would like to sign up someone under 18, please email sleepout@centrepoint.org as you will need to fill out a consent form before attending.
There’s a suggested minimum fundraising target of £250 per person for Manchester and £350 for London, and our team will be on hand to support you to reach this.
The money you raise covers the cost of the event place and the administration fees we pay for you to take part. It also helps us to deliver the services we provide to homeless young people.
If you're concerned you won’t reach your fundraising target, please email us at sleepout@centrepoint.org as soon as possible. We're on hand to help you out with tips and ideas that will help you reach your target. We may be able to extend your deadline so that you have that little bit longer to fundraise.
Your fundraising will go directly towards supporting young people who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, or have experienced homelessness.
Centrepoint is a safe space for young people to build an independent future, providing expert support and secure housing to those who are in need.
Here are some examples of what your fundraising target of £250 could provide:
- £33 could help our helpline staff connect a young person with safe shelter.
- £120 could fund an essential starter pack for a young person arriving at our accommodation services, ensuring that they have fresh bedding, towels, toiletries, cooking equipment and winter clothing.
- £200 could provide 10 psychotherapy or counselling sessions for a vulnerable young person, ensuring that those experiencing a mental health crisis receive the crucial support that they need.
We work across Manchester specifically with a helpline centre and outreach services.
Yes you can, in fact groups of more than 4 can use the code GROUP at the checkout and get free registration!
Here’s how to register and fundraise as a team:
- Each participant will need to sign up individually through our sign-up form
- Next, you will be automatically redirected to set up your own individual JustGiving page.
- You can then set up a separate Team Page on JustGiving, and each person in the team can link their individual pages to the team page.
Yes! When you sign up, we will be in touch regularly with fundraising tips and advice and much more information about the event in the lead up to the night!
If you don't receive any emails from us, please make sure to check your junk or spam folders in your inbox.
You can also contact us at sleepout@centrepoint.org if you need any extra help or advice.
Yes, some workplaces offer match funding which can be an amazing boost towards your total! It’s always worth asking your employer to see if this is possible. If you would like to discuss getting your workplace involved further, drop us an email at sleepout@centrepoint.org and we'd be happy to chat!
