How we started Sleep Pod

Our Story

The Sleep Pod Co-Founders, Ian, Justin and Pete met while they were volunteering in refugee camps in Europe in 2015. They were driven to action after returning to the UK, sometime later where the same tragic conditions are faced by people on our streets.

And so Sleep Pod was born. 

After a lengthy design process, field tests, and feedback from users (and many prototypes later) the Sleep Pod can now be built on mass and distributed wherever it is needed. 

2015
Founded
Co-Founders, Ian, Justin and Pete volunteer in refugee camps in Europe and were driven to action after returning to the UK
2015
2016/17
Protoyping
2016/17
2018
Volunteer Builds
First Volunteer Builds are taking place
2018
2020
Charity formed
2020
2021
Home Builds
Home Builds during Covid and Corporate Team Building Events
2021
2024
Expanding abroad
Distribute to homeless charities in Germany, Portugal, Italy and France
2024
2025
Biggest year yet
Produced and distributed 2,786 Sleep Pods taking us to over 15,000+ pods since 2018.
2025

Our Mission

Sleep Pod exists to protect rough sleepers from the cold, wet, and harsh weather conditions on the streets.

Our simple, life-saving shelters keep people warm, safe, and seen, offering not just protection, but also a way for frontline partners to connect with those in need and signpost them towards support and a better future

What began as a grassroots response in the UK is now growing into a movement of compassion, with the potential to reach disaster-affected communities and vulnerable people worldwide.

Our mission is clear: deliver emergency aid that saves lives today, while helping open the path to lasting change tomorrow.

Message

What we say

We say that people do not need to die of exposure on the streets – anywhere – it doesn’t have to be this way. A simple, effective solution is available in the Sleep Pod and action is needed for more people to benefit. The Sleep Pod is not a solution to the crisis, it’s one measure – an emergency shelter to be made available to outreach teams and charities for them to give to rough sleepers and refugees that haven’t managed to access existing services.

Message

What you do

You become part of the Sleep Pod story of course! There are lots of different ways that you can do that you can get involved but know that we can’t do it without you.

Meet the team

Who is behind Sleep Pod?

the co-fournders of sleep pod

Ian Ashby & Pete Kenyon

Co-Founders

Katie Matthews

General
Manager

Karl Hildebrandt

Digital Communications &
Fundraising Lead

Doug McKnight

Sleep Pod
Legend

Get in touch

Contact

For any inquiries please email or use our contact-form.

For requests about corporate events please get in touch here.

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Every winter, people across the UK face freezing nights without shelter.

You can change that.

Just £30 provides a life-saving Sleep Pod