Senior executives, founders and business leaders across Oxfordshire are being invited to swap their beds for sleeping bags this autumn as the Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM) CEO Sleepout returns in 2026 to raise vital funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness.
The annual event will take place on Thursday 08 October 2026 at Oxford University Parks, bringing together members of the county’s business community for one night outdoors in support of local homelessness services.
Organised locally by OHM in partnership with CEO Sleepout, the event aims to bring together more than 60 senior leaders, although businesses are also encouraged to enter teams and take part collectively.
Participants will spend the night sleeping outdoors, while hearing directly from people with lived experience of homelessness and learning more about the frontline organisations working to support vulnerable people across Oxfordshire.
Raising funds for local homelessness projects
Each participant is encouraged to raise a minimum of £1,000, with funds supporting OHM’s local partnership projects and initiatives designed to prevent and respond to homelessness across the county.
Previous OHM Sleepout events have raised more than £250,000 over the past four years, helping fund projects supporting people experiencing homelessness and hardship.
OHM says the event is not intended to replicate the reality faced by people without a safe place to live, but instead aims to encourage empathy, challenge misconceptions and inspire longer-term action.
Yvonne Pinner, Project Director at OHM, said the event provides an opportunity for Oxfordshire’s business community to use its influence to create change.
“Homelessness is everybody’s business. Oxfordshire has an incredibly influential and compassionate business community, and OHM CEO Sleepout Oxford gives the practical opportunity to use that influence to make a difference.”
Highlighting hidden homelessness among women
This year’s event will also support OHM’s ongoing work around women experiencing rough sleeping and hidden homelessness.
The organisation has led Oxfordshire’s contribution to the national Women’s Rough Sleeping Census in 2024 and 2025 and will continue the work locally in 2026.
The census highlighted how official rough sleeping figures can fail to capture many women’s experiences. National research found that many women experiencing homelessness stay in hidden or unsafe locations rather than sleeping visibly on the streets.
OHM says improving understanding of women’s experiences is essential to ensuring support services reflect the realities faced by those at risk.
Sasha East, who has previously shared her experience of homelessness and OHM’s support, said:
“Women’s experiences can be very different, and it is important to highlight that and consider what we can do here in Oxford to make things better for people.”
A challenge for Oxfordshire’s business community
OHM is encouraging businesses to nominate a senior leader, enter a company team, sponsor the event or help spread awareness through their networks.
Previous participants have described the Sleepout as a powerful reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and the importance of supporting people facing difficult situations.
The 2026 OHM CEO Sleepout Oxford will take place on Thursday 08 October 2026 at Oxford University Parks.
Businesses and individuals interested in taking part can register via the CEO Sleepout website or contact Oxfordshire Homeless Movement for further information.
