Teesside charity urging people to raise funds to tackle rough sleeping
Changing Lives are looking to raise nearly £250,000 in just a week next month
People in Teesside are being urged to get active to help cover the total distance of the world to fundraise for a charity tackling rough sleeping.
The Changing Lives Around the World Challenge will take place from Monday 7th September to Sunday 13th September, with participants joining from anywhere in the UK.
The charity's calling on businesses, individuals, teams and communities to sign up for the challenge that will see people across the country collectively travel the distance around the world in just seven days.
The aim is simple but ambitious: to collectively cover 24,901 miles, the circumference of the Earth, while raising £249,100 to support Changing Lives’ work with people facing homelessness and the complex challenges that often come with it.
Participants can take part in whatever way works for them. Whether walking, running, cycling, swimming, wheeling, doing lunchtime laps around the office, organising a team challenge, or getting colleagues together for a week of activity, every mile will count towards the shared total.
The challenge comes at a time when homelessness remains at crisis point. Latest official figures show that 4,793 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in England on a single night in autumn 2025, a new record high. At the end of December 2025, 134,210 households were also living in temporary accommodation across England, including 85,800 households with dependent children.
Changing Lives supports around 14,000 people every year across the country through more than 120 projects, including in Teesside, working with people experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, exploitation, addiction, involvement with the criminal justice system and long-term unemployment.
The charity is now encouraging workplaces, community groups, families and individuals to sign up, set themselves a challenge, and raise vital funds to help people move away from crisis and towards safety, stability and independence.
Stephen Bell OBE, Chief Executive of Changing Lives, said: “Behind every homelessness statistic is a person. Someone with a story, hopes, relationships and potential. At Changing Lives, we know that homelessness is not inevitable, and with the right support people can rebuild their lives and move forward.
“The Changing Lives Around the World Challenge is about people coming together to do something positive, practical and powerful. Covering 24,901 miles in a week is a big target, but it reflects the scale of ambition we need if we are serious about ending homelessness and supporting people through the challenges they face.
“We would love to see businesses, colleagues, families, schools, community groups and individuals all getting involved. Whether you walk a mile, cycle 100 miles, or bring a whole team together, every mile and every pound raised will help us continue providing life-changing support to people who need it most.”
Businesses are being encouraged to take part by creating workplace teams, setting internal distance targets, encouraging staff fundraising, or competing with other local organisations to see who can cover the most miles.
Individuals can also sign up and take part in their own way, setting a personal challenge across the week and asking friends, family and colleagues to support them.
Registration is now open through the Changing Lives Around the World Enthuse page