Local MPs slept rough with other leaders last night to raise awareness and money for homelessness. 

MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller took part in the Oxford CEO Sleepout, which took place from 7pm last night (October 10) until 6am this morning

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, also attended the event and said it was "a privilege to join many business leaders, college heads and others". 

The CEO Sleepout, a nationwide event that has raised £3.8 million for more than 100 charities to date, was formed in December 2013 by Andy Preston, after two successful sleepout events.

More than 55 business leaders, CEO’s, and local teams slept out on the frosty night at University Parks Oxford.

Mr Miller said: “The CEO Sleepout is a fantastic initiative and I am glad to be taking part to shine a light on the importance of tackling homelessness.

“Homelessness is unfortunately on the increase, with shameful rises in people being threatened with or forced into homelessness.

"With so many suffering the consequences of the cost of living crisis, it sadly leaves many people vulnerable to homelessness.

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"This insecurity affects all aspects of a person’s life and the stress all too often impacts on mental health.

"It is a problem across Oxfordshire and the country and I am taking part in this challenge to encourage more to be done to address the root causes and prevent more people from finding themselves homeless.”

Calum Miller at the CEO sleepoutCalum Miller at the CEO sleepout (Image: Calum Miller) In a video posted on social media after the sleepout this morning, the Liberal Democrat MP said the sleepout was a "way of understanding a little bit more about what it's like to sleep rough every single night of the year".

"This has given me a real inside into the vulnerability of those who have to sleep rough each night, and I am even more dedicated to working to help to combat the scourge of homelessness, and ensure that people in our country have the ability to sleep safely at night with a roof over their heads," he added. 

Yvonne Pinner, project director at Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, said: “Last year, 47 of Oxford’s big-hearted business leaders helped us raise a whopping £76,500 and this time we want to make it bigger and better and achieve our goal total of £100,000.  

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"While CEO Sleepout is no comparison at all to the experience of homeless people, we hope that business professionals will get a tiny glimpse into the discomfort they experience on a daily basis.

"Then it’s over to them – while we put the money to good use with our partner organisations in Oxfordshire, we’d love for participants to continue to spread awareness about the cause and how the everyday person can help.”

The link to donate can be found here: https://oxfordshirehomelessmovement.org/ceo-sleepout