StreetSmart have announced their latest fundraising total of £610,000 collected from 580 participating restaurants and hotels in November and December 2013.
Meanwhile, a new report states homelessness has increased for three consecutive years, due in part to housing shortages and changes to the benefit system. Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Crisis also found that almost one in 10 people experience homelessness at some point in their life, with one in 50 experiencing it in the last five years.
CentrePoint estimates the number of young people that experience homelessness rests at 80,000 per year in England. Fifty per cent of StreetSmart funding is directed towards preventative programmes for 16-24 year olds, helping them with accommodation, health care, education, employment and training. Targeting support for young people is part of sponsor, Deutsche Bank’s, youth engagement programme, Born to Be which aims to reach 160,000 young people over 4 years.
StreetSmart, which raises funds by adding £1 per table at participating restaurants during November and December, continues to be supported by high profile celebrities, chefs and restaurants UK-wide holding 47 Michelin Stars and 376 AA Rosettes between them. These venues include The River Café, The Grain Store, Polpo, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
Stephen Fry commented:
“Every year StreetSmart grows as more and more restaurants catch onto the simplicity and splendour of the idea. Britain is enriched by the quality of its restaurants, and now the restaurateur, chefs and their patrons are helping to enrich the lives of those caught in the misery of homelessness.”
Sister campaign, SleepSmart, saw a substantial boost in donations in 2013 with top hotels such as Claridges and the Jumeirah Carlton joining the scheme, alongside loyal regulars such as The Landmark, The Andaz, Lancaster London and the Park Plaza Group.
StreetSmart’s 9 year partnership with Deutsche Bank has been crucial to the campaign’s success, ensuring diners and hotel guests know all costs have been covered, so that every penny of each £1 donated goes straight to charity. Last year Deutsche Bank launched its youth engagement programme, Born to Be, aimed at breaking the cycle of youth unemployment. As a result, over half of StreetSmart’s fundraising will support preventative and youth-focused projects aiming to end homelessness before it begins.
For more information on StreetSmart please contact:
Jennie Blouet jennie.blouet@streetsmart.org.uk or Glenn Pougnet, glenn.pougnet@streetsmart.org.uk
A full list of the participating restaurants and hotels, homeless projects funded and partners supporting StreetSmart can be found at www.streetsmart.org.uk
