Businesses in the city have been pledging their support for the Big PNE Sleep Out.

On Friday 15 November hundreds of people are expected to sleep out at Deepdale to raise funds for the Foxton Centre.

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Helping the city’s homeless the sleep out aims to raise £50,000 for buy a house for Preston’s rough sleepers under the charity’s Housing First initiative.

Names on the team sheet so far includes Harrison Drury Solicitors who have two offices in the city.

A team of six led by solicitor Kerry Southworth will be bedding down for the night.

She said: “Charlotte Hurst, Katherine Aspinall, Jenna Louise Atkinson, Laura Dover, Kris Midgley and myself are going to take part.

“We want to raise £1,000 between us.

“We have a strong corporate social responsibility and we are heavily committed to helping the local community, either by charitable donations, raising awareness of issues, or providing legal support to local organisations.

“Having two offices in Preston City Centre (one of them our head office) we are aware of the issues that homeless people face on a day to day basis, and we would like to lend our support to the fundraising to buy a property for use by homeless people.

“Instead of just making a donation to the cause, our team are very eager to get involved in any way they can to boost the fundraising, and therefore we are braving the cold for one night in November to raise money and awareness of homeless issues.”

See Harrison Drury’s fundraising page.

Mark O’Rourke, who runs independent restaurants Fino Tapas, Otter’s Pocket and We Don’t Give A Fork is joining the sleep out.

He said: “I’m doing the sleepout with my missus Connie on my birthday.

“I want to support a local charity.

“They don’t just help homeless people, they run Youth groups and do a lot of good work with the community as a whole.

“Foxton is a top charity and needs more support locally.”

See Mark O’Rourke’s fundraising page.

A city centre business centre is entering, along with many of the firms based there.

Cotton Court is entering a team of 15 to sleep out and hope to raise more than £1,000 between them.

Rochelle Jeffrey from Cotton Court said: “We are very proud to be able to be a part of the Big PNE Sleepout.

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“Homelessness is a major issue in Preston and if we can contribute to raising awareness and money to support this cause then why not be involved.”

See the Cotton Court group’s fundraising page

Also taking part is Lisa Philipson from Charter Financial Planning.

She said: “Myself, Susan Counsell and Claire Egan are signed up.

“We want to raise at least £500 and all our staff have been proud to support The Foxton Centre over recent years and are very keen to help raise the funds for this fantastic 50th anniversary project.”

See Charter Financial Planning’s fundraising page.

Marketing and PR firm Zebra Colour’s managing diretor is also preparing his sleeping bag.

Gareth McDonald is bedding down.

He said: “Thanks to whoever it was who signed me up. The Foxton do great work and I look forward to joining everyone sleeping out at Deepdale and raising money for a great cause.”

See Zebra Colour’s fundraising page

How your business can take part

The Big PNE Sleep Out is available for businesses big and small to get their sleeping bags out for.

You can go to the Foxton Centre’s website to sign up.

If you’re not able to do the event but want to support it, you can make a donation here to support everyone taking part.