SOME of Manchester’s top restaurants are banding together throughout November and December as part of the annual StreetSmart campaign to raise funds to help the homeless.
StreetSmart works by participating restaurants adding £1 to all customers’ bills throughout November and December. This is a voluntary contribution and the amount is the same no matter how big the party. The money raised is collected in January. This year all the money will be donated to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Homelessness Fund, which will be distributed to the homeless charities that it supports.
That is because this year StreetSmart has partnered with the region’s new Metropolitan Mayor, Andy Burnham, to support his pledge to end homelessness in the region. Burnham told us: “I’m so grateful to StreetSmart for joining up with us this year. All the money raised will be contributed to the Mayor’s Homelessness Fund, and will directly support our fight against rough sleeping and homelessness in Manchester.
“So we just encourage anyone that’s dining out this winter to check the StreetSmart website, find the participating restaurants, have a good time, and give your support.””
20 years on on from the inception of StreetSmart, £7.9 million has been raised nationally, while in our region alone last year the £1 gift earned £16,000 for homelessness charities and the campaign intends to smash this figure in 2017. The StreetSmart campaign is unique in that 100 per cent of the monies collected go direct to LOCAL homeless organisations, thanks to the generosity of sponsors Deutsche Bank.
Through local projects such as The Booth Centre, Barnubus and The Wellspring it is estimated that nearly 5,500 people benefited from cash raised in 2016. These organisations are focused on helping individuals break the cycle, regain their dignity and rebuild their lives via positive action, as well as providing crisis and emergency shelter and food.
Customers who want to give something extra when they dine this Christmas can do so by visiting the following Greater Manchester restaurants…
Elnecot, Manchester ;
Salvi’s Corn Exchange, Manchester
Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols, City Centre
Store Street Exchange, Manchester
Tariff and Dale, Northern Quarter
The Allotment Vegan Restaurant, Stockport
The Rivals, The Royal Exchange, ManchesterThe River Restaurant, Lowry Hotel Restaurant, Salford
The Refuge, Manchester Yuzu, Manchester FCC FT
Restaurants can still sign up to the campaign once it’s commenced they should contact
Siobhan Hanley by emailing [email protected]