Preston’s Labour group have confirmed they will be joining the Big PNE Sleep Out.

Council leader Matthew Brown and his cabinet colleagues are going to be bedding down at Deepdale on Friday November 15.

They are the second political group to announce they are taking part in the event which aims to raise £50,000 for The Foxton Centre’s Housing First initiative.

The charity buy up empty properties, renovate them and then use them to ensure rough sleepers have a roof over their heads.

It’s not the first time Cllr Brown will have bedded down to support the city’s homeless.

Last year he penned a piece for Blog Preston about what it had been like sleeping out for the night on the Flag Market in support of the Fox Street shelter.

Cllr Brown told Blog Preston about the Labour group joining the Sleep Out: “I am delighted myself and many colleagues in the Labour Group will be supporting the Big PNE Sleep Out this year.

“It is my view is it is always good for people like ourselves in positions of authority to express solidarity with those least fortunate by sleeping out and raising as much as we can for the Foxton Centre.

“As a Labour administration we have great admiration for the many workers and volunteers in our homelessness charities who do everything they can to help the most vulnerable.

“Many homeless people have stories of abuse, addiction or financial stress and raising awareness of the causes of homelessness is positive. If people can offer a small donation to this worthwhile cause it will be really appreciated.”

Cllr Brown and the Labour group have a fundraising page here you can donate to for their sleep out effort.

Cllr Brown is being joined in the Sleep Out by fellow councillors Freddie Bailey, Robert Boswell, Carol Henshaw, Peter Kelly, Nweeda Khan and Martyn Rawlinson.

The Big PNE Sleep Out will see nearly 300 people bed down in Deepdale Stadium for the night on Friday November 15.

Registration for the event is closing in, with the Friday November 1 the final day to register.

How you can take part or donate to the Big PNE Sleep Out

The sleepout is available for individuals, small businesses and large companies to take part in.

As an individual – minimum target of £100 sponsorship

Businesses with one to five employees – minimum target of £250 sponsorship

Businesses with six to 25 employees – minimum target of £500 sponsorship

Businesses with 26 or more employees – minimum target of £1,000 sponsorship

Those taking part are then encouraged to raise additional sponsorship for undertaking the sleepout.

To register your interest in taking part then please visit the Big PNE Sleepout page on the Foxton Centre website. You must register by Friday November 1.

If you don’t fancy sleeping out at Deepdale but want to support the event you can make a donation at The Big PNE Sleep Out appeal page.

And Kate and Ed from Blog Preston will be doing the Sleep Out, you can donate to support them here. We really appreciate your backing!

Read more about some of the great people doing the Sleep Out

The Military veterans doing the Sleep Out, the man who has already tripled his fundraising target, the PNE online forum members bedding down and the businesses from Preston taking part.