Oxfordshire business leaders to sleep outside to help tackle homelessness
The CEO sleepout is raising money for local homelessness projects
Business leaders across Oxfordshire are swapping their beds for sleeping bags tonight as a major charity fundraiser returns for its fifth year.
The CEO Sleepout Oxford will see participants spend the night outdoors at the Oxford University Parks, raising money and awareness for people experiencing homelessness across the county.
Organised locally by Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM), the event has raised around £250,000 over the past four years, with organisers hoping to build on that total this year.
Despite its name, the event isn't just for chief executives, with employees and local councillors also taking part.
OHM Project Director Yvonne Pinner said: "Not for a single second do we suggest that by sleeping out for one night you get what it's like to have to do that every night, but it does give people a teeny glimpse."
Supporting women experiencing homelessness
Money raised from this year's event will help fund projects addressing gaps in homelessness support across Oxfordshire, including new initiatives focused on women.
OHM says women experiencing homelessness are often overlooked because they are less likely to sleep in visible locations, making them harder to identify through official rough sleeping counts.
The 2025 Women's Rough Sleeping Census found that 65% of women surveyed had slept or stayed in places that would not be captured by official snapshot counts.
Yvonne said: "When local authorities do their counts of people who are rough sleeping to try and gauge those numbers, they won't find women very often because they won't sleep in a place where they can be found."
She added that sleeping rough can be particularly dangerous for women, making specialist support increasingly important.
Sasha East, who has previously spoken about her experience of homelessness and OHM’s work, said: “I found myself running away, sleeping in places like garages, keeping out of sight, trying to hide and being really scared. I would be taken home by the police and then run away again.
“I’m really grateful to OHM and the work they do, particularly their focus on women sleeping rough. Women’s experiences can be very different, and it is important to highlight that and consider what we can do here in Oxford to make things better for people.”
A night for reflection
Among those taking part is Victoria Martinelli, who works at an Oxfordshire-based marketing agency which has also been providing free PR for the charity.
She said she is feeling slightly nervous about the event, but is looking forward to hearing from people who have experienced homelessness themselves.
"I know it's going to be emotional, but in a kind of positive way," she said. "It shows, with help, what the outcomes are for some of these people."
Victoria said the experience will also allow her to reflect on the difference between taking part in a charity event and having no choice but to sleep outside.
"I'm lucky enough to be able to go home, have a hot shower, have food and also it's in a safe environment."
Each participant has been encouraged to raise at least £1,000, with the central message of the event being: “Sleep out, wake up, change lives.”