Shameful new stats show that there are now so many homeless people in the UK, they could fill Pittodrie Stadium 19 times over.
The heartbreaking data comes ahead of a major Aberdeen fundraiser at the 20,866-capacity stadium, which aims to raise vital funds for local frontline services.
The Aberdeen CEO Sleepout takes place on Thursday April 16, and follows a hugely successful inaugural event last year that raised £72,000 – the highest event for a CEO Sleepout outside London.
It comes as bleak figures show 382,000 people are now classed as homeless in the UK - the highest since records began - while an estimated 175,000 are children.
In Scotland alone, it is estimated one new household is classed as homeless every 15 minutes.
“Tragically, 13 homeless people lost their lives in Aberdeen last year, and the fact that news doesn’t cause more outrage shows just how numb we’ve all become to poverty,” said Bianca Robinson, the charity’s CEO.
“The sad reality is we have hundreds if not thousands of children in the city who wake up each day not knowing for sure that they’ll have a roof over their heads that night, and the sheer scale of homelessness has become incomprehensible.
“The Aberdeen CEO Sleepout is at Pittodrie, and that could be filled 19 times over with the number of people in the UK classed as homeless – and that figure is rising each year.
“That needs to change, and that’s what CEO Sleepout is about; Asking people to give up home comforts for one night, to raise money that can change lives immeasurably.”
Bianca Robinson
Launched in 2013 in the North East of England, CEO Sleepout has become a national fundraising force. To date, it has raised over £6M to help over 200 organisation combat both poverty and homelessness.
This year, the charity is aiming to raise £1m for the first time ever, amid unprecedented demand for homelessness services.
Funds raised from the Aberdeen CEO Sleepout will help three local organisations: Aberdeen Cyrenian, Aberdeen Foyer and Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust (AFCCT)
“Last year’s Sleepout created conversations that mattered, about what homelessness really looks like, who it affects, and why it happens, said Donna Hutchison, CEO, Aberdeen Cyrenians
“It brought people together with compassion, humility, and a shared determination to do better. Aberdeen Cyrenians is proud to be part of this event again. For us, it’s about more than one night: it’s about building understanding and action that lasts long after the sleeping bags are packed away.”
And with the Abeerdeen CEO Sleepout set to be one of the charity’s biggest events, Bianca has urged the community to “spare what they can” – and for the city’s business community to step up.
“Times are hard for everyone, but for those can, every pound they can donate makes a difference to local lives – and the incredible charities supporting some of Aberdeen’s most desperate people,” added Bianca.
“Last year, the money we raised in Aberdeen shattered all expectations. It shows the generosity this city has, and we know that they will do it again.”
For more information, to sign up or donate, visit https://www.weareac.org/news/ceo-sleepout-aberdeen-2026-launch