TAP for Bristol raises over £30,000 for homeless charities in its first year

TAP for Bristol raises over £30,000 for homeless charities in its first year

Posted on: 08 Oct 2020

The contactless donation points were set up across central Bristol in 2019.

 

The TAP for Bristol contactless donation scheme has raised more than £30,000 for local homeless charities in its first year, organisers have revealed.

 

Located at busy areas around the city centre, including in Broadmead, on College Green and Wapping Wharf, TAP for Bristol points allow the public to make one-off £3 donations to Bristol-based homeless charities.

 

This week, in recognition of World Homeless Day 2020 on Saturday 10 October, a new TAP for Bristol point is set to be installed at Temple Meads station.

 

 

Launched in September 2019, TAP for Bristol was set up by the Bristol City Centre BID and Caring in Bristol in the hope that the city could become one of the world's first to effectively solve its homelessness problem.

 

The scheme offers members of the public a simple and straightforward option to give money to local charities, safe in the knowledge that every penny will be used to tackle homelessness through a combination of prevention work and emergency support.

 

Funds are divided equally between Caring in Bristol and local frontline services, with the Quartet Community Foundation managing the grant programme and donations.

 

In celebration of a successful debut year for the TAP for Bristol project, the City Centre BID is donating a further £10,000 to assist homeless people move into new, permanent accommodation, and support people at risk of losing their homes amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

 

A portion of the BID's latest donation will be allocated to homeless charity St Mungo's, who have been working on the streets of Bristol throughout lockdown to help rough sleepers and those in communal shelters into emergency hotel accommodation.

 

 

Speaking on TAP's donations milestone, Bristol City Centre BID Project Lead, Vicky Lee, said: "It says so much about our great city and the spirit of Bristol that even through the toughest of years people have donated an incredible £30,000 to help homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.

 

"We would like to thank everyone for such generosity and we are delighted to be able to announce the next funding grants which will help people get set up in new, permanent and safe accommodation as well as support others who may be at risk of losing their home."

 

Meanwhile, Caring in Bristol Director, Ben Richardson, expressed his gratitude for the people of Bristol in getting the TAP project off the ground.

 

"Obviously, the hard work is only just beginning," he said, "but every tap of a payment card or phone on one of the TAP points across the city really is a lifeline for people at risk of losing their homes."

 

Caring in Bristol have warned that a growing number of people are facing home insecurity in 2020, and are predicting a sharp increase in evictions as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The charity is using its portion of the TAP funding to continue its life-changing homeless prevention and early intervention support, including training volunteers and funding a money advisor and a housing advisor. 

 

For more information about TAP for Bristol, or to donate to the scheme, visit their website or head to their JustGiving page.


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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

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.