Today (Thursday 1st November) sees the launch of restaurant initiative StreetSmart in Bristol with a record fundraising goal: to raise more than £10,000 for the city’s homeless charities before the end of the year.
By adding just £1 to every table’s bill, restaurants across the city have taken up the challenge to top last year’s fundraising total and generate donations in excess of £10,000 for local charities such as Emmaus, 125 and The Bristol Soup Run. The campaign, supported by the likes of Stephen Fry and Gordon Ramsey, donates 100% of the money raised in Bristol to charities within the city, meaning every penny counts.
With more than 20 restaurants signed up to support the campaign – double last year’s number – charities look set to have a bumper start to 2013 thanks to the generosity of diners in Bristol.
Richard Pendlebury, Chief Executive of Emmaus Bristol which offers homeless people the opportunity to help themselves and others, comments: “Last year we received £5,000 from StreetSmart which has allowed us to devise a new project where Companions (formerly homeless men and women) are developing and leading training for others. Our StreetSmart grant has helped us to fund our minibus which allows us to carry out vital work locally and further afield.”
Jonathan Bowker, manager at The Muset in Clifton Village, one of StreetSmart’s newest recruits for 2012, comments: “There was no question of us getting involved. At The Muset we are part of the local community and are 100% committed to giving something back – this seemed like the perfect way to do it. For us it’s more than just passing on the donations made by our customers – Jethro Lawrence, our head chef, and I are also planning to do a stint at a soup kitchen this winter to make as much of a difference as we can. But the StreetSmart campaign makes it so easy for everyone to play their part with very little effort.”
Head chef at Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant Louise McCrimmon agrees: “The thing about homelessness is that it’s closer to each of us than we think. In this day and age you can feel you have everything but it can be taken away from you in an instant leaving you with nothing. We are really looking forward to being able to make another donation to Bristol’s homeless charities on behalf of our customers at the end of the festive season.”
StreetSmart campaign organiser Sofie Boddy says: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from Bristol’s restaurant community this year – we’re confident we’re going to raise more money than ever before thanks to them and their customers. But it’s not too late to join in – and restaurants in the city who are interested in becoming part of the campaign should get in touch by visiting www.streetsmart.org.uk – it takes a tiny effort but can make a huge difference to those people who need it most.”
Restaurants taking part in StreetSmart include:
- Bell’s Diner
- Berwick Lodge
- Fishers Fish & Seafood Restaurant
- Maitreya Social
- Moreish
- Primrose Café
- Riverstation
- Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols
- Shanghai Nights
- Tart Café & Foodstore
- Zazu’s Kitchen
- Namaskar Lounge
- Tobacco Factory
- Goldbrick House
- Papadeli
- Grain Barge
- The Muset
- Rosemarino
- Food Couriers
- Wilks Restaurant
- The Urban Wood
- Mud Dock
For further information about StreetSmart, visit www.streetsmart.org.uk.