Menu
This one's a little different to our usual content but just as, if not more important! 👇
At Creative Compass UK, we usually share tips on the design, websites, and how to improve your branding, marketing and social media, but today, we're talking about something offline, tangible and a lot more immediate: homelessness.
On April 14th, Aberdeen will host a CEO Sleepout, bringing together local business leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs to give up their beds for just one night to sleep under the stars away from their home comforts. The goal? Raise vital funds and awareness to support the people in our communities who don't have the choice of a safe, warm place to sleep.
The CEO Sleepout is a UK-wide initiative asking business leaders to swap their duvets for sleeping bags for one night. Since its launch in 2013, it has raised over £4 million, supporting frontline charities across the country that work every day to fight homelessness and poverty.
This isn't a stunt. It's not about pretending to be homeless. One night outside doesn't come close to the reality that thousands of real people face daily. But it does aim to send a message: we see the issue, and we want to be part of the solution, even if that part is small.
In Aberdeen, funds raised will go directly to local organisations working to support people experiencing homelessness in the North East: Aberdeen Cyrenians, Cove Rangers Community Foundation, Aberdeen Foyer, and The Blank Faces. These charities provide shelter, food, advice, counselling, rehabilitation, and pathways to employment and stability. They are boots on the ground daily, doing the work that makes a difference.
Homelessness is a reality that affects far too many people in Aberdeen (and the UK as a whole), and the problem is only getting worse. In the past year alone, homelessness in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has risen by 24%, with more people than ever struggling to find a safe, stable place to call home. This statistic by itself proves the importance of awareness and efforts to make a positive change.
More than 270,000 people are estimated to be homeless in the UK today, with over 130,000 of them being children. And that number doesn't just represent those sleeping rough. It includes people in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing, or staying in unsuitable, unstable conditions with no real home to speak of.
Aberdeen is no exception. Like many cities, it faces rising housing costs, stretched social services, and an increase in hidden homelessness - people without a place to live but without the visibility to receive support. The reality is that this is happening on our doorstep. And it demands attention, empathy, and action.
The sleepout itself isn't the solution. But it does raise money and spark conversation, both of which are essential in addressing homelessness.
Your donation can:
Even small donations add up to life-changing outcomes for those who need it most.
While this blog isn't about us, we are taking part because we believe this matters.
As someone who's had personal experience exploring homelessness through university projects, I saw firsthand how much humanity is overlooked. I didn't just take photos though, as that wasn't what the project was about; I sat down, talked and listened to people's stories. You would be surprised how many people thanked me, not for the food I also brought with me, but for just taking the time to speak to them, as the worst part for many of them was constantly being ignored.
What also struck me most was how quickly someone's circumstances could change. How close we all are to crisis. And how invisible so many people become when they need help most, and that has stayed with me ever since.
This is Simon, who I spoke to back in 2020, and this is what he told me, in his own words:
.jpg)
"Unfortunately, I lost my wife and kids, and when that happened, I went into a full mental breakdown. I'm ashamed to say I tried to take my own life at work. My bosses understandably didn't like that, and so they cancelled my contract. Without a job, I couldn't pay my rent, and so to this day, it's been 3 years since I've been on the street. Just by being here, I'm breaking the law. Even though I have nowhere else to go, I'm still breaking the law just by being here with a sign to explain I'm only human.
I think it's wrong to paint everyone with the same brush; however, in my point of view, from someone who doesn't do drugs or drink to escape or use as a crutch, I can 100% understand those who just want to get out of the horrible situation they're in.
Now that I've been living on the street, I have a new insight into the people living in the same conditions; just because we're on the street doesn't make us monsters, rapists or murderers. We're just people, people who need more help than we're given. The stigma of homelessness needs to stop, and as someone who used to have a job, a house, etc, I used to just walk past and ignore them too, but this really shouldn't be the case.”
You don't have to give up your bed to make a difference. You can support the organisations doing this work daily right here in Aberdeen.
If you can donate, you can do so here: 👉 Click here to donate
If you can't donate, sharing this blog or learning more about the work of CEO Sleepout and local homelessness charities is another way to help!
Homelessness is a complex issue, but the starting point is simple: care, awareness, and action. Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this; see you on the 14th!
Shona & Jamie
