Two Bristol charities

Two Bristol Charities Receive Boost This Winter

Two Bristol-based charities have been accepted onto the Big Give Christmas Challenge this year, which will see public donations doubled between 30th November – 7th December 2021, giving the people of Bristol a chance to make a huge difference in their local communities during the festive period. FareShare South West and Bristol Hospitality Network are the two successful applicants to the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021: a campaign founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE and one that has raised millions of pounds for thousands of charity projects since it launched on the Big Give in 2008.

With this time of year associated with giving, and with the charities representing worthwhile causes, here’s a little more about what they do in case you are looking to make a charity donation that will have double the impact: FareShare South West

FareShare South West tackles food insecurity and hunger across Bristol and the wider South West and does this by simultaneously tackling food waste. FareShare South West normally takes in excess of 500 tonnes of in-date, good quality surplus food (deemed surplus for reasons ranging from inaccurate demand forecasting, packaging errors, damage in transit or retailer rejections) each year and redistributes it to over 300 schools, charities, and community groups across the South West. These charities provide meals as part of their services to people in need – such as children’s breakfast clubs, day clubs for older people, domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters and drug and alcohol rehab units. However, since March 2020, the charity has redistributed significantly more food to meet need – including enough food for 6 million meals between March 2020 – 2021.

In response to what is already emerging as a difficult winter – considering spiraling energy bills, the increasing cost of food and cuts to universal credit – FareShare South West launched FoodStock 2021. This emergency winter operation aims to provide a significant uplift in food reaching communities by building a stockpile of additional ambient food with the funds and infrastructure to deliver it in the coming two months. Says CEO of FareShare South West, Julian Mines: “The money raised via the Big Give Christmas Challenge will allow FoodStock 2021 to have even greater impact that we had first planned, and one that in the context of the challenges vulnerable individuals face this winter is absolutely vital. This operation has already proved more challenging that we anticipated, due to the disruption in food supply chains and the HGV driver crisis, which have affected our ability to get food into the warehouse. This has driven up the logistical costs of the operation but we are continuing to work with local and national food suppliers to ensure we have the quantities of food we need to get enough food for 1 million meals out to those who need in most in the next two months. We are also proud that the operation will include a food parcel packing element, which means food can also go out to smaller charities and organisations who don’t have the infrastructure to create food parcels for their end users.”

Bristol Hospitality Network Bristol Hospitality Network (BHN) extends solidarity to people in the city who are seeking asylum and experiencing destitution. Destitution means going without the basic essentials most of us take for granted – being able to eat, stay safe, warm and dry. The current rules of the UK asylum system mean it’s difficult for some people to provide the evidence they need for a successful asylum claim. Because of this, they may be refused help by the state, despite their genuine need. When this happens, people are left with no access to work, no financial support, and no access to accommodation.

One of the ways BHN offers support is through a Solidarity Fund. Anyone who is currently hosted by BHN, living in our accommodation or part of our host network, becomes one of our members. This is around 30 people at any one time. The Solidarity Fund goes directly to each and every one of members, to help relieve financial hardship. We aim to give £20 every week to support our members’ needs - whether that’s clothing, food, transport, or other essentials. BHN’s Director of Operations, Rachael Bee, says: “During the pandemic, when times were really very tough for our members, we committed to giving £20 a week in solidarity to make sure everyone had enough funds to support themselves. We want to continue this into the new year and beyond, as we see the continued pressures our members are facing, and how much difference the Solidarity Fund can make. What's great about the fund is that members can spend it on the things they need the most, that will make the most difference. All donations given this Christmas will help us to keep the fund running in 2022, and every gift directly supports support people's health and wellbeing." Donations: https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/ campaign/a056900001tyx7lAAA

To donate and have their donation doubled, individuals must visit their chosen charity’s ‘Big Give Campaign Page’ between 30th November – 7th December 2021. More information about the campaign can be found here: https://www.thebiggive.org.uk/s/ christmas-challenge