As Christmas fast approaches, Amazonico, Claude Bosi at Bibendum, Mildreds, Norma and Andrew Edmunds join 600 restaurants raising money to tackle the homeless crisis across the UK. By simply adding a voluntary £1 to diners’ bills during the festive months, StreetSmart has raised nearly £10 million since their foundation in 1998, enabling them to support charities, hostels and projects with every penny staying local to where it’s raised.
“It’s timely, during a period of excess, plenty and overt consumption to give something back. Being homeless is particularly stark at Christmas, which is the time for compassion, companionship, family and warmth.” Nick Gibson, Emile.
Also joining the initiative are the pub groups Hippo Inns, Metropolitan Pubs and Urban Pubs so you can pop into your local to donate as you enjoy a hearty lunch at the The Signal in Forest Green or The Bald Faced Stag in East Finchley or The Whippet in Kensal Rise.
Rowan Blenkharn from Hippo Inns explained their involvement- “We approached StreetSmart as homelessness resonated more around the pubs – visibility was the key issue as we noticed more rough sleepers and knew we had to do something to help the community.”
In addition to helping rough sleepers, StreetSmart have teamed up with LandAid, the property industry charity to help deliver their 2019 programme, with a joint mission to end youth homelessness in the UK. New research by Shelter shows Sixty households a day became homeless in London in 2019 – equivalent of one every 24 minutes. This means that 88,320 children will be living in temporary accommodation in the capital this Christmas.
Paul Morrish, Chief Executive at LandAid, said: “LandAid is delighted to partner with StreetSmart this winter, a partnership which will enable LandAid to provide even more homes for young people experiencing homelessness across the country.”
The chef and long term supporter Angela Hartnett sums up the campaign succinctly “StreetSmart is a fantastic way to help the homeless especially at a time of year when we should be thinking of others.”
