My Story

In April I’ll be joining business leaders and community members across Leicester for the CEO Sleepout at Mattioli Woods Stadium. For one night we’ll sleep outside to raise awareness of homelessness and poverty in our city, and to support the incredible work of Helping Hands Community Trust in Oadby and Wigston.

The statistics in Leicester are sobering. Nearly 4 in 10 children are growing up in families living below the UK poverty line, meaning many households are already struggling to cover the basics. When incomes are stretched this tightly, even small changes such as a rent increase, job loss, or the end of a tenancy, can quickly push families into crisis. Against that backdrop, the number of people sleeping rough locally has been rising.

Behind these numbers are real people: families living in temporary accommodation, individuals facing complex challenges, and people who simply need a bit of support to rebuild stability in their lives.

Through my work in education and training, I’ve always believed that opportunity can transform lives. But for many people experiencing poverty or homelessness, those opportunities can feel very far away. Organisations like Helping Hands work every day to provide practical support, dignity and hope to those who need it most.

Sleeping outside for one night is a small gesture compared with the challenges many people face every day. But if it helps raise awareness and vital funds for organisations supporting our community, it’s absolutely worth doing.

If you’re able to support the cause, I would be incredibly grateful. Every donation helps make a real difference.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.