Caring in Bristol reflect on a year of their pioneering Cheers Drive project

Caring in Bristol reflect on a year of their pioneering Cheers Drive project

Posted on: 01 Jun 2021

The charity celebrated one year of their free food delivery service in April.

 

Local homelessness charity Caring in Bristol have published their first annual impact report on Cheers Drive, a free food delivery service for homeless people and rough sleepers launched last year in response to the coronavirus crisis.

 

Available to view online, the 27-page report outlines the Cheers Drive team's achievements over the past 12 months, and nods to several local businesses, charities, community groups and volunteers that made it all possible.

 

 

Of course, the success of a charitable initiative isn't just in the numbers, but a quick scan of the Cheers Drive stats shows just how much of an impact it's had for people in need.

 

More than 160,000 meals prepared and distributed to as many as 400 people per day across Bristol; donated food totalling more than £85,000; 23.5 tonnes of surplus food diverted from landfill.

 

All signs point to an incredibly successful project that has played a huge role in dealing with the impact of the pandemic and ensured that hundreds of people have access to fresh, nutritious meals during such a difficult period.

 

Of course, none of it would be possible without the tireless work of Bristolians who have donated and volunteered their time, from local independents The Pony & Trap and The Gallimaufry to devoted charitable organisations such as FareShare and Food Without Borders.

 

Caring in Bristol's impact report also notes that volunteers have been central to Cheers Drive from the get-go, logging thousands of hours collecting and delivering fresh ingredients, cooking and distributing meals, packing up food parcels, cleaning kitchens and packing rooms and more.

 

 

Beneficiaries of the Cheers Drive project responded positively to the social contact they had with volunteers, too, with many relocated to hotels and other isolated accommodation across the city during successive lockdowns.

 

From books and activities to catering equipment and ingredients, Cheers Drive volunteers provided people with a range of equipment to enable them to stay occupied and maintain a sense of autonomy in their day-to-day lives that had been affected so profoundly by the crisis.

 

Now, one year on from the project's launch, Caring in Bristol are developing practical new services that allow vulnerable people to move towards food independence, have an increased connection with their local community and maintain their accommodation.

 

For more information on Cheers Drive, or to find out how you can support Caring in Bristol in 2021, head to the charity's website, read the full Cheers Drive impact report or follow news and updates on Twitter.

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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.