The Big PNE Sleep Out returns to tackle female homelessness in the city

A huge community effort is planned to help tackle the rising tide of female homelessness in Preston.

The Big PNE Sleep Out is returning to Deepdale in March 2026 for a third time as Preston North End Community and Education Trust (PNECET), The Foxton Centre, Blog Preston and Veolia join forces to prevent homelessness in the city and support women who are homeless.

Aiming to raise £100,000, the money will be donated to initiatives by both Foxton and PNECET that work with women across the city.

Hundreds of Prestonians have joined the two previous sleep out efforts in cold and damp conditions at Deepdale in 2019 and 2023 to raise nearly £150,000 over the years to help tackle homelessness in Preston.

The third sleep out takes place on Friday 27 March and those taking part will be provided with a sheet of cardboard to bed down on pitchside at the home of Preston North End - whatever the weather and show their solidarity with those facing homelessness.The cardboard will be provided and subsequently recycled by Veolia.

Nationally the number of homelessness women living in temporary accommodation has doubled since 2011, according to Shelter and women and families now make up 60 per cent of homeless people in England.