The Big Sleep Out 27th March 2026
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- 2 min read
Between us, Hunter and I regularly meet people whose mental health is not what it once was.
Sometimes it’s post-Covid.
Sometimes it’s the aftermath of relationship breakdowns, abuse, or long periods of work and life stress.
Often, it’s a quiet accumulation of pressure that simply becomes too much.
We see first-hand how quickly someone’s “luck” can change.
There are many people who want to work, who are capable and willing but the reality is that it’s tough out there. Rising costs, fragile support systems, and stretched services mean that one unexpected event can tip someone into crisis.
And homelessness is not some distant issue.
It is a real and growing reality for many especially women and children.
For women, homelessness often looks different.
It’s hidden.
It can mean sofa-surfing, unsafe living arrangements, staying in harmful situations, or choosing silence because the alternatives feel even more frightening.
On Friday 27 March 2026, we are taking part in the Big Sleep Out at Deepdale, organised by PNE Community and Education Trust.
This year’s theme is Hidden Homelessness shining a light on the realities faced by women and girls when stable housing disappears, and the additional risks, trauma, and invisibility that come with it.
The sleep out is being supported by The Foxton, Blog Preston, Veolia, and the wider Preston community all coming together to raise vital funds to prevent homelessness and support women who are already living through it.
The systems meant to protect people often feel fragmented.
Support can be hard to access.
Stress levels are through the roof.
And when someone is already exhausted, overwhelmed, or traumatised, navigating those systems can feel impossible.
By sleeping out for one night, we’re not pretending to experience homelessness.
But we are standing in solidarity.
We’re helping to fund organisations that do the long, difficult, compassionate work every day providing safety, advocacy, stability, and hope.
If you’re able to support, share, donate, or simply start a conversation it all matters.
Because homelessness doesn’t always look like sleeping on the streets.
And because anyone, at any time, can be closer to the edge than they realise.
With love,
Janie & Hunter
