Chief executives to sleep rough in tribute to homelessness filmmaker
A ‘sleep out’ for business leaders to pay tribute to Lee Halpin, who perished while making a documentary about homelessness, will take place in Newcastle.
Up to 50 business leaders from the area will take part in the fundraising event on October 17th beside St James Park, which is being jointly organised by CEO Sleepout UK and Newcastle United Foundation.
A percentage of the funds raised from the sleepout will go to the friends and family who are completeing the documentary, Stepping Outside, which Mr Halpin was making about homelessness in the city when he died.
In his mission statement about the film, Mr Halpin spoke of his concern about the growing numbers of homeless people and the possible repercussions of the government’s bedroom tax.
The inquest into Lee Halpin’s death is open and adjourned while the coroner considers the evidence, however the post mortem was unable to pinpoint why he died in the derelict Newcastle building in April.
The event’s organiser, Sleepout UK’s chief executive Andy Preston, said a number of housing professionals would take part in the event and Inside Housing columnist, and chief executive of housing association Fabrick, Alison Thain took part in a previous event in Middlesborough.
Mr Halpin’s childhood friend, corporate finance executive Abu Ali, is helping to organise and taking part in the CEO Sleepout in memory of his friend.
