TRAFFORD Housing Trust bosses have signed up to Manchester’s forthcoming CEO Sleepout fundraising event.

Chief Executive Matthew Gardiner, Deputy Chief Executive, Larry Gold and Director of Property Services, Iain Wallace, have each signed up to the event that will be hosted at Lancashire County Cricket Club on October 16.

The sleepout will see senior executives from a range of over 100 Greater Manchester organisations give up the comfort of their own beds and spend the night outdoors in aid of local charities which tackle homelessness and poverty.

Matthew Gardiner said: “This will be my first CEO Sleepout, and I’m pleased to announce that with Larry and Iain joining me, we will have the chance to raise even more money to target homelessness and poverty in Greater Manchester.

"Of course, this is only one night for us, and nothing compared to people who have to spend every night on the street, but we hope that it will help raise awareness of the poverty in which many homeless people have to endure.

“Tackling poverty and helping the homeless are also not just issues which I am personally passionate about, they are also at the heart of Trafford Housings Trust’s mission and vision as a business. Therefore, I’m very proud, both personally and professionally, to be undertaking this challenge as it will generate funds that can genuinely transform people’s lives.

“And if people want to support the cause, but don’t like the idea of sleeping under the stars on a freezing cold autumn night themselves, they can sponsor myself, Larry or Iain via our JustGiving page.”

The Manchester sleepout is also one of eight being staged across the UK this year, with the initiative hoping to raise over £500,000 in total.

Since launching in 2013, the Sleepout project has seen over 1,000 executives take on the challenge, raising over £1m in the process.

To sponsor the team, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-gardiner7