How to help the homeless in Bristol this Christmas
Posted on: 16 Dec 2019Find out how to do your bit during the toughest time of the year for Bristol's growing homeless population.
The UK's problem with homelessness has worsened again in 2019, with over 320,000 people declared legally homeless across the country according to leading charity Shelter.
Bristol's homeless population is growing at an alarming rate, with an estimated 82 people sleeping rough in the city every night according to a report carried out by Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless.
.jpg "Bristol's homeless population face bitter conditions this winter.")
Winter and the festive period are among the toughest times of year for rough sleepers, due to harsh weather conditions and temperatures that have, in recent years, started to drop below zero.
Many of us are rightly concerned about the issues facing homeless people in Bristol but don't know the best way to do so, so find a quick list below of the most effective ways to support Bristol's homeless population this Christmas.
Volunteer with Help Bristol's Homeless
Help Bristol's Homeless is entirely run and operated by volunteers, so they're always looking for people to get involved and help out in any way they can.
Application forms are available on the organisation's website for administration, cleaning, kitchen support, office-based and shelter-based roles.
Find volunteering roles on the Bristol Homeless Forum
The Bristol Homeless Forum is a platform dedicated to connecting Bristol's homeless support projects, charities and other organisations and helping them build their teams and find new volunteers.
If you're looking to dedicate some of your time to a good cause, find their website through the link above and find an index of roles currently available.
Join a Feed The Homeless Bristol Walk
Feed The Homeless has been operating since 2016, delivering hot meals, warm clothing, sleeping bags and more to rough sleepers across Bristol and Weston Super Mare.
During winter, activities are mainly centred around distributing hot meals to the homeless within Bristol city centre on Friday and Saturdays, and 7 days a week in Weston. More volunteers mean bigger teams, a bigger reach, and a chance to help more people than ever.
Donate to the Bristol Soup Run Trust
The Bristol Soup Run Trust aims to ensure that, on every night of the year, homeless people have access to food and other essential supplies, free of charge.
As well as providing meals and support, the Trust aims to provide rough sleepers with basic information on relevant issues, including locations of emergency accommodation and advice centres.
Make your own donations
If you've got the time to spare and you're concerned about homelessness and helping homeless people in Bristol, you should absolutely be getting in touch with one of the organisations above.
However, if you can't make the time to volunteer, there's no reason why you can't do your bit on a personal level. If you see someone on the street, offer them a coffee or some hot food, or donate things like warm clothing and sleeping bags.
If you see someone who you suspect is sleeping rough, you can inform StreetLink. The service will try to connect them to local services and organisations to get them off the streets.
Contact them on 0300 500 0914 or via their website.
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Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
