Challenge: Sleep beneath the stars to support our Armed Forces community.
Date: Thursday 27th March 2025
Time: 4pm – 7am
Location: The Trenches, Detling Showground, Kent
Give up your home comforts to help veterans into a warm, safe bed
Following on from the success of this year’s Chairman’s Sleep Out event, we are thrilled to announce some exciting news. The Chairman’s Sleep Out 2025 will take place at The Trenches, located at Detling Showground in Kent on Thursday, 27th March, with activities commencing from the earlier time of 4pm. Our goal for next year’s event is to significantly expand our impact, aiming to raise an ambitious target of £2 million UK wide to support homeless veterans.
If your taking part in the event you can set up a just giving page below. If if you’re unable to take part you can also donate to the campaign.
WHAT IS THE CHAIRMAN’S GREAT TOMMY SLEEP OUT?
The Chairman’s Great Tommy Sleep Out is a fundraising challenge designed to support the estimated 6,000 veterans that are experiencing homelessness in the UK right now.
We invite you to stand in solidarity with RBLI’s Chairman, Steve Rowbotham, and brave the weather by participating in the Chairman’s Sleep Out 2025. Your organisations involvement will contribute significantly to transforming the lives of homeless veterans, providing them with vital support and assistance.
The Experience
The Chairman’s Sleep Out 2025 promises to be a memorable experience, set in woodland, the event will feature a 150-meter-long first World War trench, meticulously recreated by a dedicated team of history enthusiasts and the evening will be led by one of the UK’s most exciting military historians, Andy Robertshaw. Andy has been a frequent talking head on popular TV shows from channel 4’s Time Team to BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?
During the sleep out you will be joined by our veterans where you’ll hear a first-hand account of their experience of life after the forces and how they came to RBLI for support. You’ll be provided with an evening meal and a survivor’s breakfast. This exclusive event will be challenging, reflective and will provide high level networking opportunities for chairmen and CEOs across a range of sectors, as there will be plenty of opportunity to talk with your fellow comrades.
Join #TeamTommy
TO TAKE PART IN THE CHAIRMAN’S GREAT TOMMY SLEEPOUT
Why Join Us?
For more than 100 years RBLI have helped the most vulnerable veterans. Recent global events have deeply impacted military veterans right across the nation and we have seen a 45% increase in the demand for our services for homeless veterans over the past year alone. The cost of living crisis is already having an impact and young, single, male veterans, in particular, can struggle to access social housing and many find themselves living on the streets. It can be impossible to secure employment without a fixed address, plunging them into worsening financial troubles and serious mental health struggles.
The Difference you’ll Make
Every pound you raise from The Chairman’s Great Tommy Sleep Out helps the UK’s most vulnerable veterans by allowing us to provide safe homes and the support they need to get back on their feet. Our emergency accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion, is facing enormous pressure this winter and will rely heavily on donations.
Your Guide to sleeping out
Read our guides and top tips for recommendations on how to make the most of this challenge.
