City centre team distribute £20,000 to homeless charities
Bristol City Centre and Redcliffe and Temple Business Improvement Districts have distributed £20,000 from their TAP for Bristol initiative between three charities.
Bristol City Centre BID founded TAP for Bristol in partnership with Caring for Bristol in 2019. The initiative is now also supported by Redcliffe & Temple BID to raise funding for charities in support of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
People in Bristol can donate using one of the 25 TAP points on business premises across the City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID areas, or online via the JustGiving page
The beneficiaries of the latest round of donations are Emmaus Bristol, a charity supporting individuals in securing employment and independent living after experiencing homelessness,
Survivors Leading Essential Education & Change (SLEEC), a survivor-run organisation that seeks to change systems and support survivors, and Caring In Bristol, the initiative’s charity partner.
Since May, the TAP for Bristol scheme has donated £5,000 to Emmaus, to financially support companions who are moving on into independent living. This includes financial help towards their first month’s deposit, rent and/or bills. Providing these grants gives the companions the confidence and means to take their next step away from homelessness.
An additional £5,000 was donated to SLEEC, an organisation run by volunteers from female-led charity Bristol Women’s Voice. The funding will support survivors who are at risk of homelessness in the interim period of having left an unsafe situation and waiting to be housed in emergency accommodation.
Caring in Bristol have received a further £10,000 towards their Z-House project, an emergency youth shelter providing short-term accommodation for young people experiencing homelessness, aged between 18- 25 whilst they secure move-on options. In addition to this, an additional £1,000 has supported the printing of Caring In Bristol’s handbooks.
These latest grants follow those made to a range of charities across the city in recent years totalling over £120,000.
Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “It’s positive to see so many members of the public helping to support those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in the city by supporting TAP for Bristol. Our three chosen charities do incredible work in assisting those in need and we are so grateful for the opportunity to give back to them through the initiative, ensuring the longevity of the life changing work that they do.”
