Helen Mirren to read bedtime story at homelessness sleep out in Trafalgar Square

Dame Helen Mirren will read a bedtime story in London’s Trafalgar Square as part of a campaign to help fight homelessness.

The actress is one of several celebrities getting involved with The World’s Big Sleep Out, a global initiative which aims to raise £40 million to tackle homelessness.

Sleep outs will take place in 50 cities around the world, including London, New York, Edinburgh, Brighton, Newcastle, Cardiff, Dublin, Newport, Belfast, Chicago, Amsterdam, Manchester, Madrid and New Delhi.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Hollywood star Will Smith will tell a bedtime story in Times Square, New York.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, model Lisa Snowdon, Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, singer Jamelia, author Giovanna Fletcher and presenters Kate Garraway, Cherry Healey, Angela Scanlon and Anita Rani will also be taking part.

“Homelessness on our streets is a real problem in the UK and for many nations throughout the world,” Mirren said.

“This coupled with an unprecedented number of refugees being displaced internationally makes this a really important time to focus attention on the issue of global homelessness.

“The World’s Big Sleep Out campaign will play an important role in shining the political spotlight on the issues of homelessness and displacement whilst raising considerable funds to make a big difference.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a contribution by performing a bedtime story for participants in London, which will also be screened at sleep out events happening throughout the world.

“I’d like to encourage anyone who cares about this issue to get involved by sleeping out, in solidarity with those who have no choice, on December 7.”

The World’s Big Sleep Out is spearheaded by Josh Littlejohn, the co-founder of social enterprise Social Bite, which is working to end homelessness in Scotland.

“It doesn’t matter if you are taking part in Times Square or in your back garden with your family, by sleeping out for one night on December 7 we can simultaneously express our compassion for homeless people who have no other choice and raise lifesaving funds to make a difference,” he said.

“We can also send a message to the world’s political leaders that urgent action is required to address the human suffering that we each witness on our streets every day.”

A new charity called The World’s Big Sleep Out Trust has been established to govern the funds raised from the global event, while funds raised in the USA will be managed by Unicef USA with the support of Robin Hood Foundation.

Research by the Institute of Global Homelessness shows that there are more than 100 million people homeless and displaced around the world.

The event takes place on December 7. People can register for an official event or sign up to “Host Your Own” sleep out in their backyard, office car park, high school or university campus by visiting www.bigsleepout.com.

Additional reporting by Press Association.