The Great Tommy Sleep Out

The Great Tommy Sleep Out 2026 is the flagship and most successful fundraising campaign led by Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE), mobilising communities across the UK to raise vital funds for veterans facing homelessness. Fronted this year by SAS: Who Dares Wins Billy Billingham MBE, the campaign inspired more than 17,000 people to sleep outside for one night or more in March 2026. From families, schools and Scouts to corporates, cadets and community groups, the support was vast.

Participants slept out in gardens, workplaces, beaches, car parks, town squares and remote rural locations, creating a truly national movement. The campaign exceeded every target, raising £2.4 million to date, with final income expected to reach £2.8 million against a £2 million target.

RBVE’s Kent Village is already home to more than 300 veterans and their families, from emergency accommodation for those in crisis to fully independent living. The Village is closely linked to RBVE’s integrated employment pathways, helping people move from crisis to independence. Funds raised through the Great Tommy Sleep Out will allow RBVE to expand this support even further, including the Centenary Village expansion and the UK’s first HMO of its kind for female veterans in crisis.

The campaign was delivered entirely in‑house by RBVE’s small fundraising and marketing team, supported by our social enterprise, which produced and fulfilled thousands of incentive beanie hats, creating paid work for veterans and people with disabilities. out‑of‑home advertising.

The campaign achieved exceptional visibility, reaching millions.