StreetSmart launches its annual campaign to help the homeless on November 1. Already a raft of some of Manchester’s finest restaurants has signed up, but it is not too late for others to join this great cause.
The campaign 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. With hundreds of restaurants and customers doing this nationally this small gift adds up to a serious impact on the lives of the local homeless population. The 2014 campaign raised over £12,000 for Manchester charities.
StreetSmart is unique in that 100 per cent of the monies collected go direct to local homeless charities, thanks to the generosity of sponsors Deutsche Bank.
Manchester organisations that benefited last time included The Booth Centre, Contact Hostel, The Church Housing Trust and The Wellspring. 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.
Glenn Pougnet, Director of StreetSmart said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of the restaurants who have signed up to StreetSmart this year – the list reflects the diverse dining scene that Manchester has become increasingly famous for. We’d be delighted to have even more join in especially as the city’s homelessness problem is in the spotlight. That small commitment can make such a difference, and to an issue that effects us all.”
Amy Hinks from the Booth Centre said: “Some of our programmes, particularly the ones that Streetsmart have helped us to fund, really do transform the lives of homeless people. Last year we applied for funding for a catering training course that we wanted to deliver to the users of our centre. The project now enables homeless people to learn to cook, to gain practical work based skills and to gain a food safety qualification, while producing healthy food for other homeless people attending the Booth Centre’s drop in advice sessions and education classes.
“We also provide support to enable people to move onto further training, voluntary work or better still, employment in the catering industry. Projects like this can be actual lifelines for homeless people. We couldn’t do it without the support of Streetsmart.”
Manchester actress Julie Hesmondhalgh (above) has pledged her support: “What a brilliant idea StreetSmart is. Minimum fuss for restaurants and customers alike, just an extra quid on the bill and BOOM! Hundreds of homeless of people can have something extra in these cold winter months. Please please help make this a massive Manchester-wide initiative this Christmas!”
Customers who want to give something extra when they dine this Christmas can do so by visiting the following Greater Manchester restaurants:
Banyan Bar and Kitchen, Corn Exchange, City Centre.; Kro Heaton Moor, Heaton Moor.; Salvi’s Cucina, Manchester; Salvi’s Corn Exchange, Manchester; Damson, Heaton Moor; Damson, MediaCityUK; Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom; Hearth of the Ram, Ramsbottom; Lowry Hotel Restaurant, Salford; Mr Cooper’s House and Garden; Rudy’s Pizza, Ancoats, Manchester; Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols, City Centre; Tariff and Dale, Northern Quarter; The Parlour, Chorlton; The Red Lion, High Lane; Urban Cookhouse, City Centre; Vermilion, Openshaw.
Full lists of participating restaurants and charities can be found at www.streetsmart.org.uk.
The local scheme was launched at Tariff and Dale. Our picture shows representatives from that bar/restaurant, Salvi’s, Harvey Nichols, Banyan Bar and Kitchen and Urban Cookhouse.