On Thursday 6 November, Ruth Parker, Chief Executive, took part in the CEO Sleepout Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Ruth joined local business leaders, to raise awareness and funds for local homelessness initiatives.
CEO Sleepout is a national charity that brings together business and community leaders to help tackle homelessness. Events like this raise vital funds for frontline services and help create real, lasting change for people experiencing homelessness.
This year’s CEO Sleepout Sunderland showed the real power of community, raising £20,000 to support frontline charities, including Emmaus North East. The funds raised for Emmaus will help to provide homes, food, tailored support, training and pathways out of homelessness.
On the night, Ruth, joined by Emmaus North East Trustee, Jane Playle, swapped the comfort of their homes for a sleeping bag on the stadium grounds. Whilst in no way replicating the plight of people facing street homelessness, the event was an important way to show solidarity and raise awareness, funds and positive change across our region.
Reflecting on the experience, Ruth said:
“It was an inspiring night, bringing everyone together with a common goal and showing what we can achieve when we come together to fight homelessness.
Spending the night outside with colleagues and local leaders really made you stop and think about what people without a home go through every day. It was a powerful reminder that even small actions can make a real difference.”
Ruth also shared how meaningful it was to be joined by Kerri Douglas, an inspiring author who experienced homelessness from a young age and recently spoke about her journey at the Emmaus National Assembly. Kerri’s story reminds everyone why events like the CEO Sleepout matter so much.
Thank you to everyone who supported the CEO Sleepout and sponsored this important cause. Together we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those who are homeless.
To learn more about how you can get involved with Emmaus North East, please visit the ‘Support Us’ page.