StreetSmart are launching their 2019 fundraising campaign across the UK, working with restaurants to raise money for vulnerable and homeless members of their local community during the months of November and December, with a particular focus on youth homelessness and addressing food poverty.
The River Café, Core by Clare Smyth, BOX-E Bristol and Barrafina continue to pledge their support, with new sign ups including Flor, Scully and Emile joining over 600 restaurants with 38 Michelin stars and 378 Rosettes across the UK who are supporting the charity this year.
Through the simple idea of 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 that help those living on the streets and in unsuitable accommodation. What’s more, every penny of every £1 stays local to where it’s raised.
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.
LandAid’s contribution to StreetSmart allows the charity to continue achieving real change and enables 100% of StreetSmart’s donations to be passed directly onto projects.
Stephen Fry supports StreetSmart and said: “Every year StreetSmart grows as more and more restaurants catch onto the simplicity and splendour of the idea. Britain has been enriched by the quality of its restaurants over the last twenty years more than at any other time in its history, and through StreetSmart the restaurateur, chefs and their patrons help to enrich the lives of those caught in the misery of homelessness. We may not be able to solve the problem but at least by doing something we, in some way, diminish its tyranny.”
The number of rough sleepers in London has surged to a record high, new figures suggest. Data collated by CHAIN (combined Homelessness and Information Network) shows 3,985 people slept rough across the capital from July to September 2019, a 28% increase year on year. Of that 2,069 people were new rough sleepers, a rise of 50%, meaning someone is becoming homeless 22 times a day.
Monica Galetti, chef and TV presenter who runs Mere Restaurant said: “Anything we can do to alleviate the pain of homelessness, especially at this time of year, is worthwhile. With StreetSmart it is so easy and 100% of the money raised goes direct to people most in need.”
StreetSmart was founded in 1998 and has to date has raised £9.5 million.
TWO CHARITIES SUPPORTED BY STREETSMART IN 2019:
The Felix Project
The Felix Project collects surplus food from suppliers and delivers it free of charge to charities across London that provide food to some of the most vulnerable people in our society – it is a wonderfully simple model helping address the twin scandal of food waste and food poverty. The operation is run by a small team of staff and 400 volunteers who drive, walk or cycle to collect food from suppliers and deliver to 200 charities. Each week 20 tonnes of food is delivered, enough food for over 7,000 meals a day.
Shelter from the Storm
StreetSmart helped fund the renovation of a former supermarket in Archway, Islington into a new purpose built, design led 40 bed shelter. The emergency night shelter run by Shelter from the Storm is for 24 men and 16 women every night of the year and now includes a community café and shop. Residents are offered a warm bed, a home-cooked hot dinner and a breakfast each morning, laundry services and clothing, showers, a space where people can store belongings safely and access to IT. Each resident will also be supported by their own caseworker, helping them to find employment, access housing and lead a fulfilling life once they have moved on.