30 June 2017

New contactless donation points to fund Bristol’s night shelters have been launched in Broadmead; marking a new approach to supporting homeless people in Bristol.

Shoppers are able to touch their bank card to give £2 direct to the #SOSBristol fundraising campaign.

Safer off the Streets (SOS Bristol) is aiming to raise £100k for the city’s night shelters. There are four night shelters offering 70 emergency bed spaces. Each shelter provides somewhere safe and supportive to stay whilst volunteers and staff work to help people find accommodation, and help with health and employment issues.

The night shelters are run by St Mungo’s, The Julian Trust, Caring in Bristol and Crisis Centre Ministries in partnership with Bristol City Council and SOS Bristol is an initiative from the Rough Sleeping Partnership,  set up by the Council to tackle rising homelessness in the city through new service provision and awareness campaigns.

The Broadmead Business Improvement District (BID) are supporting SOS by donating the use of the units.

David Ingerslev, Project Manager at St Mungo’s and Rough Sleeping Partnership lead, said: “The #SOSBristol campaign has raised nearly £40,000 and we are pleased with the support from the community. We are delighted the Broadmead BID has donated the use of the units to us. There is nothing else like this in Bristol. They will make donating easier for shoppers who may not carry small change but who feel compelled to take action to support people they see rough sleeping. It is simple, immediate and will directly help people to be safer off the streets.

“It is free for people to stay at our night shelters but we rely heavily on fundraising and volunteers and these donation points will help bring new support to the #SOSBristol campaign. We would also encourage people to continue to make referrals via streetink.org.uk as this helps us reach people quickly and can help us ensure no one has a second night out on the streets of Bristol.”

You can donate to the campaign online at www.fundsurfer.com/SOSBristol

Press Contact: Jo Lenny, South West Communications Officer on 07702 858 243 or jo.lenny@mungos.org