FAQ's

Days available for booking show in blue on ACTiO. If a session isn’t showing up, it’s likely that it’s not available. Make sure you scroll to the correct month to see available sessions. Timeslots available will normally be updated for the month at the end of the previous month. If you are looking for a particular activity (eg. Christmas Stay) but it’s not showing – make sure you scroll to the right to see all available activities

If the venue has enabled a waiting list for an activity, this will allow you to add yourself to this list IF A TIMESLOT IS FULLY BOOKED To add yourself to the waiting list, click the radio button next to the fully booked timeslot you’d like and select ‘add me to the waiting list’ If someone cancels their booking, you will receive a notification via email and within ACTiO (Notifications are found in the menu on the top right of your screen and you can accept the slot here) You will have 2 hours to confirm and pay. If you don’t confirm your spot, it will be offered to the next person on the waiting list. You can also remove yourself from the waiting list by clicking on the radio button next to the timeslot you have chosen and selecting ‘cancel waiting list’ You can be on a maximum of 3 waiting lists at one time.

Currently all overnight stays must be pre-booked to ensure you have a slot on the day. We cannot guarantee there will be availability if you arrive on site without a booking.

If you have forgotten or cannot find your band don’t worry, we can assign you a temporary green wristband. If you think your wristband might be permanently lost, you can purchase a replacement for £3 on site which can be paid for by contactless card payment.

A NOWCA safety wristband is issued to all NOWCA members and can be used at any Sleep Out venue across the country. The wristband contains an RFID chip and holds information supplied upon your registration about emergency contacts, health conditions and contact details. The wristband must be scanned when your child arrives at the venue and when they leave. We will also be scanning your child's band when they fall asleep and wake up, this information is kept on your child's profile. The band is yours to keep.

You can purchase a replacement wristband at the venue for £3 (contactless payment). Please note, that your old wristband will no longer work so you should dispose of this (or return it to the venue) should you find it.

When you registered with NOWCA, you chose your ‘collection venue’. When you arrive for your first overnight stay, a wristband will be assigned to you. This is yours ‘for life’ and you must take it with you to every stay at Sleep Out.

Sleep Out does not currently offer refunds on bookings unless there are other children on the waiting list for the time slot you have booked. You are also not able to transfer your session to another day or person. Please ensure you have carefully checked the date and time you wish to book before making payment. If there are other customers on the waiting list for the time slot you have booked, you may request a refund by taking the following steps: Login to the ACTiO app Go to the correct venue & select the activity you have booked – under ‘Available activities’ Scroll down to the calendar and select the day you have a booking Click on the time slot you have an activity booked (it will say ‘you are booked on this activity’) Once you have clicked the radio button to the left of the time slot, scroll down and click ‘REFUND’

If you have added yourself to a waiting list and receive an email or app notification, you will need to do the following to accept the slot within 2 hours: Login to ACTiO app or the desktop version https://actio.nowca.org/ Go to NOTIFICATIONS (click on the burger bar in the top right corner and the menu will drop down) Click on the notification referring to your waitlisted slot then book and pay. You will have 2 hours to confirm and pay. If you don’t confirm your spot, it will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

If the venue has enabled a waiting list for an overnight stay, this will allow you to add yourself to this list IF A TIMESLOT IS FULLY BOOKED To add yourself to the waiting list, click the radio button next to the fully booked timeslot you’d like and select ‘add me to the waiting list’ If someone cancels their booking, you will receive a notification via email and within ACTiO (Notifications are found in the menu on the top right of your screen and you can accept the slot here) You will have 2 hours to confirm and pay. If you don’t confirm your spot, it will be offered to the next person on the waiting list. You can also remove yourself from the waiting list by clicking on the radio button next to the timeslot you have chosen and selecting ‘cancel waiting list’ You can be on a maximum of 3 waiting lists at one time.

Bulk credits for Sleep Out venues can be purchased within the ACTiO app. Once you choose a venue, you will see the Available activities icon. Beneath that is an option to Book Now or Buy Credits (purple button) Please note, credits are assigned to a particular venue. If you wish to attend a different venue, you will need to purchase credits for each venue, separately.

All Sleep Out venues operate using the NOWCA safety and booking system which means any person wishing to attend an overnight stay at Sleep Out must have a valid NOWCA membership. This annual membership gives you access to all Sleep Out venues across the UK. You will receive a NOWCA safety wristband, collected when you arrive for your first overnight stay at your chosen venue. The easiest way to complete the membership process is by downloading the ACTiO app. You will first set up your profile within the app (you will be given the option to choose which venue to collect your wristband from) and then pay the NOWCA annual membership fee. Once this is done, you will see session times available for your venue and be able to pre-book and pay directly from the app.

If you need to change your NOWCA membership information, please use the contact form and your query will be passed onto the NOWCA team.

All venues have free parking that is easily accessible, when you register for your first stay at Sleep Out you will be sent a map of where to go.

All bookings are made and paid prior to turning up. Any payments made on site are currently contactless as such we can take payment via either contactless enabled devices or card. We are not taking cash at this time.

When you sign up your child to ACTIO you will input all of their medical history/ allergies including any medication they may need. Venue managers will then have access to this in a quick scan of your child's wristband. Every child's wristband will be scanned before any food is served to them.

When you sign your child up to ACTiO you will need to input their medical information, this will ensure staff are aware of this medical condition. You must complete your child's "all about me" forms to ensure staff know when the medication is needed to be administered.

Please email us on hello@sleepout.uk so we can discuss your child's individual needs in more detail.