CEO Sleepout UK is a charity that raises money to fight homelessness and poverty across the UK. Money is raised by business executives being sponsored to sleep rough for a night.
CEO Sleepout was formed in December 2013 by Middlesbrough-based businessman Andy Preston, who is chairman of the charity, following a conversation with Bernie Fehon of Australia who created and organises similar projects there known as 'Vinnies Sleepouts'. The first sleepout was held outside the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough Football Club and the second inside St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United Football Club.
Since then events have been held at numerous locations including Wembley Stadium, The Oval, Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Cardiff Castle, raising nearly £800,000. More than 90 businesspeople took part in a Wembley event in October 2014, which helped to raise funds for the Cardinal Hume Centre and DePaul UK. DePaul UK is part of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. At a second London event in 2015, £180,000 was raised in what represented the biggest CEO Sleepout event to date.
CEO Sleepout is reported to be in the process of opening a not-for-profit restaurant in Middlesbrough which has been specifically planned to give employment opportunities to ex-offenders, recovering addicts and the long term unemployed.
As with many of the charity's events, Andy Preston himself took part in the third sleepout to be held on Teesside in May 2016 when about 60 local businesspeople slept rough at Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees Museum in Eaglescliffe, raising £45,000.
In 2016 the charity announced a partnership with the UK arm of international business Leesa, a company with a significant track record of philanthropy, donating one mattress to charity for every 10 they sell.
CEO Sleepout UK is a sister charity of Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.