Forward Trust CEO Mike Trace will be taking part in the London CEO Sleepout this month, which is designed to raise awareness of homeless and rough sleeping.
The CEO Sleepout brings together business leaders and organisations in support of people experiencing homelessness or social exclusion, as well as raising funds for frontline charities. The initiative has so far raised more than £5.5m, with the participation of over 8,000 executives.
More than 1,700 people died while homeless last year – an almost 7 per cent increase on 2024 – and over 30 per cent of the deaths were either on the streets or in rough sleepers’ accommodation. Last month the government announced additional funding of more than £430m to fulfil its pledge of ending rough sleeping, taking the total investment to £874m.
‘Having been through a period of homelessness in my twenties, I was attracted to the idea of the CEO Sleepout and thought I would give it a go,’ said Trace. ‘Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of helping people who are on the margins of society prove to themselves that they have value and potential, and then helping them show it to the world. Some people say junkie, criminal, dosser – good people ask what went wrong, and what can we do to help.’
Donate to Mike Trace’s CEO Sleepout here