It started out many years ago as an initiative of the Vincent DePaul Society in one region of Australia. It became an annual events for all of Australia.

Now it is moving to the United Kingdom – CEO’s sleeping out to raise awareness of the plight of those who are homeless and raising funds for initiatives to address their complex needs.

Independent Catholic News writes…The charity CEO Sleepout UK is inviting London’s high-flyers to give up their bed for the night to help raise much-needed funds to support homeless people, by taking part in the city’s first CEO Sleepout at Wembley Stadium on Monday, October 13.

This ground-breaking event is being held in partnership with two Catholic charities which provide essential and life-changing support to homeless people in London: the Cardinal Hume Centre and Depaul UK. All three charities are committed to fighting homelessness and other forms of poverty across the UK.

The number of homeless people in London has increased at an alarming rate, with almost 6,500 reported to have slept rough in 2013. In response, CEO Sleepout UK, Depaul UK and the Cardinal Hume Centre are calling for companies to nominate their CEO and senior management to abandon the boardroom for a sleeping bag and sleep pitch-side in order to help raise £100,000 for the homeless.

The Cardinal Hume Centre’s CEO, Cathy Corcoran, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Depaul on this exciting new event. Giving up one night of comfort does not compare to the hard reality for those who experience homelessness on a nightly basis, but this event will show that people do care. We all know that homelessness and poverty should not exist in the modern world.”

Depaul UK’s chief executive, Martin Houghton-Brown, said: “Sleeping pitch-side at Wembley will be a unique way to come together and make a difference; getting business leaders away from their meetings and spreadsheets to raise money and awareness for homelessness.”

CEO Sleepout invites senior managers from any industry or profession to brave the cold and take part in what will be a challenging but unique ‘night out’. Some of the UK’s largest companies have already committed their support for the event, including Aviva, Accenture, EE, Barclays and PWC.

For further details, to sign up, or to nominate your boss for the CEO Sleepout London, simply email: patriciamarron@cardinalhumecentre.org.uk (tel: 020 7222 1602), or shelley.green@depauluk.org (tel: 0207 939 1274)