A Sleep Out to challenge stigma and raise money for people facing homelessness is being held in Swindon this February.
Swindon homelessness charity Threshold is encouraging individuals, families and groups of friends or colleagues to spend the night sleeping outdoors on Friday 20th February 2026, in solidarity with those in our community who are not lucky enough to have a home to sleep in.
Sleep Out 26 promises to be a fun, family-friendly event where participants can enjoy hot food and meet others in the community, while raising money to provide a place to call home for local people who are struggling to meet their basic needs.
The event will be hosted at Lawn Manor Academy, a secure, accessible venue where the community can come together to support people who are homeless in Swindon. The partnership with the school will promote the message that everyone deserves the chance for a fulfilling and successful future.
Village Hotel Swindon will very kindly provide jacket potatoes in the evening to help everyone keep warm, and a hot breakfast will be generously served the following morning by the charity Rapid Relief Team UK.
Support from local businesses to deliver the event, participation from the community and engagement activity with students, their families and local groups will help challenge the negative perceptions and stigma around homelessness which cause devastating isolation and social exclusion.
Nearly 1,000 people were homeless in Swindon last year, and around half of these were children. Nearly 900 more households were threatened with homelessness – this number more than doubled in a year, while the number of people who are homeless increased by a quarter.
Homelessness can affect anyone, and being homeless tends to feed the problems that cause people to lose their homes. People affected often face complex challenges with physical and mental health, relationships, trauma, offending, drug and alcohol use, poverty, life skills and self-care, which keep them trapped in homelessness. Tragically, people who are homeless are nine times more likely to take their own life.
Places for People has generously awarded Threshold a grant of £1,000 to run the event. This means that all proceeds from ticket sales and funds raised by participants will be spent on providing people in Swindon with a safe place to live, and support to address their challenges and regain their independence.
Buy tickets for Sleep Out 26 and set up your fundraising page at www.threshold.charity/sleepout26
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at the event, please email fundraising@threshold.charity
