CHARITY
Fundraising – Tees Business colleagues ( left to right ) Chris Garbutt , Vicky Thomas , Dave Allan and Martin Walker raised £ 2,850 after sleeping rough at Middlesbrough FC ’ s Riverside Stadium .
CEO SLEEPOUT ’ S 10-YEAR CELEBRATION
A
total of 75 people took part in the recent CEO Sleepout , held at Middlesbrough ’ s Riverside Stadium , and the money reached £ 65,000 , with donations still rolling in , which will go a long way to helping people who are homeless across the region .
That included a Tees Business team that raised a total of £ 2,850 .
The event celebrated the national initiative ’ s 10th birthday in the place where it all began in 2013 .
Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston came up with the idea to host the event , which quickly gained support from the local business community .
Chief executive of the charity Bianca Robinson said : “ It ’ s amazing to see how willing the Teesside community is as a collective to get behind this very important cause and show real , tangible support for some of the most marginalised people in our area , and those who need the most help .
“ The atmosphere on the night was wonderful and knowing we were helping vulnerable people from the local area made it all the more special .”
The sleepout was in collaboration with Middlesbrough FC Foundation , the Teesside Charity and local grassroots charities on the frontline supporting people who are , or are at risk of , homelessness every day .
Before heading outdoors for the night , participants heard from people who have lived through and overcome homelessness .
Paul Haigh shared his story as a British Army veteran who fell into homelessness . Small kindnesses helped him to get his life back , and now he works with Walking With The Wounded to help other veterans .
Paul Suggit , a local filmmaker , shared his experience of spending weeks sleeping rough in Middlesbrough , highlighting some of the challenges he faced during lockdown .
As participants settled down for the night they were treated to a few songs from Teesside ’ s own ESMAE , which certainly helped set the positive
A group of Teesside businesspeople braved the cold to spend a night outside to raise vital funds and awareness of homelessness .
Night owls – 70 business leaders took part in the 2023 CEO Sleepout , raising a total of £ 65,000 .
atmosphere .
Bianca said : “ I ’ m so proud of the Teesside business community for sleeping out and supporting our charity , especially considering many businesspeople are facing their own challenges with soaring costs .”
Since the charity was founded in 2013 , events have been held at venues across the country , including London , Birmingham , Manchester , Nottingham , Sunderland , Kent and Darlington , and have to date raised an incredible £ 3.8m – £ 300,000 of which has been raised here on Teesside , for local people in need .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 31