Olympian Fatima Whitbread MBE and radio presenter Kat Shoob are to join business leaders and their teams at a national sleepout on Friday 6 October to raise money for leading charity Action for Children.
Formerly known as Byte Night, ‘Boycott Your Bed Live’ has been running for over a quarter of a century. Sponsored by Lenovo, this year’s events are being held in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, with hundreds of sleeper teams already signed up to take part.

Funds raised by the annual event – over £13 million to date – go to making a significant difference to vulnerable children across the UK, making sure they have what they need for a safe and happy childhood – like warm clothes, hot meals and a proper bed, as well as mental health support and protection from neglect and abuse.

Events will kick off in the early evening on Friday 6th October with participants – including Action for Children ambassador Fatima Whitbread – joining an indoor reception before heading outside to brave the elements and bed down for the night. Locations across the UK are as follows:

London: Paternoster Square
Leeds: Millennium Square
Glasgow: Blythswood Square Gardens
Belfast: Stormont Pavilion
Cardiff: Headlands School
Ellie Mcleod, Assistant Director High Value Fundraising at Action for Children, said: “We’d love as many businesses as possible to sign up, team up and sleep out at this year’s Boycott your Bed. We know that it offers a unique opportunity for team-building whilst doing something important for a vital cause.

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hold its grip over the most vulnerable families, many children across the UK are going without the basic essentials they so desperately need.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Lenovo for this event . With their support, Action for Children can continue its work across the UK to make sure all children have the safe and happy childhood they deserve.”

Philip Oldham, Marketing Director, Lenovo UK & Ireland said: “For our Lenovo team, it’s one night of bed boycotting, but for so many, the funds we can raise on this night will help to ease the burden in the most vulnerable in our society. We’re immensely proud to be contributing both in body and financial backing to this annual event and we hope many other businesses feel the same way and join us in their support. It is only with a united effort that we can ensure that many children have the safe and happy childhood they need.”