British Techies To Sleep Out For Homeless Kids

The UK tech industry is planning to raise £500,000 for children with its annual sleep out event, Byte Night 2009 – and eWEEK Europe will be there.

Organisers of the Byte Night event, which is this year supported by top names from the IT and business worlds, hope to get 700 sleepers to take part across the country. eWEEK Europe’s UK editor Peter Judge will be bedding down with executives from Dell, Intel, Talk Talk and BT at the London event, by Tower Bridge on 2 October.

People have predicted the recession will make things tough for fundraisers, but Byte Night founder Ken Deeks is bullish, predicting more money raised than ever: “When it comes to the tech industry, the appetite for charitable giving is higher than ever,“ he said. “Over recent weeks, I’ve have been overwhelmed by the support for Byte Night and enthusiasm for the new campaign. I’m very proud of the industry’s commitment to such a worthy cause.”

Launched 11 years ago, and championed by actress Jenny Agutter, Byte Night gives the money it raises to Action For Children, to provide safe and secure accommodation to vulnerable youngsters at risk of homelessness. Last year, chef Ainsley Harriott, comedian Alexei Sayle and the Arsenal football team all pledged their support, and 500 sleepers raised £470,000.

More big names are likely to join the 2009 campaign – and in the meantime, you can already sponsor Peter Judge here.

“Byte Night is now a staple event on tech calendars,” said Deeks. And where, we have to wonder, would calendars be without staples?