If you want to raise funds for CUF and take on a challenge, we're here to help.
You could organise a prayer or mindful walk, organise a sleepout challenge, hold a bake sale for your colleagues or neighbours, take on a sporting or physical challenge, or start a fundraising group at church.
Your challenge can be as large or as small as you like, as every action makes a difference. Our supporters have helped raise nearly half a million pounds since 2014, helping communities across the country.
However you choose to fundraise, it’s an exciting opportunity to take action and help make your local community a better place for all
If you do fundraise for us, or want help getting started, then we’d love to hear from you. Contact kelly.jones@cuf.org.uk, who can help with your just giving page and provide ideas and resources. We want to put the fun in fundraising!
Find some inspiration from people like you in the stories below.
Set up a Just Giving page
Creating a fundraising page on Just Giving will make it easy for your friends and family to sponsor your fundraiser online.
Summit Youth Group have run two Sleepout Challenges for us, raising over £4,000.
“Imagine what it is like for everybody who has to do this every single night.” Phoebe, Summit Group
Braving the cold, wind and rain on a December night the Summit Youth Group in Haslemere headed out for their second sleepout challenge two years running. The young people recognise injustice and want to see change for those experiencing homelessness. Their fantastic efforts raised over £2000 in 2025 to support the work of CUF in local communities.
Felix shared: “Last year at the sleepout being together with loads of friends was fun, but then imagining it being outside by yourself, you would just feel quite lonely. Maclaren added: “It’s nice to help out the community, to show homelessness is happening, that people need help and support them.”
Youth and Families Worker Verity shared: “When an issue is close to their hearts, it really matters to them and they want to be involved. Discipleship is at the core of the Summit Group, and as we encourage living out our faith we are always looking for ways we can help in the community. Looking for where God is at work and joining in.”
Paul has been taking part in Sleepout Challenges for CUF for a number of years. He told us
"I first heard about the CUF Sleepout Challenge in 2015, Homeless people were regularly using our church's porch to sleep overnight and felt compelled to act with fundraising in addition to offering individual help.
Over the years we have slept in calving barns and in cardboard boxes in our CE Infant School's playground and through storms. This year I decided to sleep in each churchyard in our parish over a number of nights. I faced storms, ice, high winds, owls and a cat fight!
I spent the second night in the porch of Ringwood Parish Church, with my good friend Kevin. It's the only night I didn't use the tent - the sad reality is that homeless people get beaten up and I didn't feel safe in the churchyard. The guys who have used our church porch over the years have all experienced it. Kevin and I realised that of the homeless people in the porch we had worked with over the past decade only one was still alive. None had reached their 60th birthday: ill-health, cancer and overdoses had taken their toll.
There is a big difference between sleeping out like this and rough sleeping for real. Tiny things make a huge difference - get something wet and it's impossible to dry. In turn you become badly at risk from hypothermia. I had the resources to dry my kit, have hot food and prepare for each night. But above all I knew I had choices, loved ones and that it was a finite time I would sleep out in December."
The Royston Rough Sleepers have been holding an annual sleepout and raising funds for CUF for 8 years. One of the group members Sophia explained why they don't use tents:
“We wanted to stay authentic to the experience of those who don’t get a choice, and aren’t just doing it for one night. For the first few years we slept under our tarpaulins around the church. Now we’re in the churchyard, as the bushes and trees afford some protection from the wind."
Alistair - Walk Towards Hope
Alastair told us that serving people in need through his sponsored walks answers his own need. He added: “I chose CUF because I want to help people rediscover their sense of hope and community.”
St Mary's CE Primary School - Sleepout Challenge
A group of teachers and pupils have taken part in 7 sleepout challenges. “Here in London, children are very aware of homelessness, and working together enabled them to take positive social action,"
Jess - London Marathon
“I have always dreamt of running the London Marathon but thought it would never happen. My dad initially suggested CUF and when I looked into them more I thought it was perfect to run for.”
Set up a Just Giving page
Creating a fundraising page on Just Giving will make it easy for your friends and family to sponsor your fundraiser online.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Thessalonians 5:11
Why Fundraise for CUF?
Rising costs have challenged us all in recent years. Despite this, churches all over England have refused to back down, and have continued to be havens of hope for many communities across the UK. They have been a welcoming and consistent presence for communities and others who have lost that sense of hope and community.
From hot meals to warm spaces to newfound friendships, churches like those in CUF's Places of Welcome network provide vital physical and emotional support to those in need. Our mission is to give as many people as possible the resources and hope necessary to flourish.
But we cant do it alone. Will you join us to provide hope to those in need?
And if you want to find out more information about the work we have done in our latest impact report linked below.
Impact Report 2024
Find out how we worked alongside churches and community groups across England to make our neighbourhoods better places to thrive in 2024
