Bristol BIDs donate £20,000 to three homeless charities

Grants totaling £20,000 have been handed out to three homelessness charities to help them continue their ‘life-changing’ work in a city.

The funds were collected from 25 contactless donation points across the city, installed by the Bristol TAP initiative.

Donation points allow people to give money with a ‘tap’ of their bank card.

Emmaus Bristol received £5,000, Survivors Leading Essential Education & Change (SLEEC) received £5,000 and Caring In Bristol received a further £10,000.

Vicky Lee, head of the Bristol City Center Business Improvement District (BID), one of the organizations behind the initiative, praised the public for their donations.

Emmaus Bristol support manager Francesca Blishen said the charity’s aim was to help people “regain their independence”.

“This funding from TAP for Bristol allows us to provide essential financial support to our residents as they transition into their own homes, empowering them to rebuild their lives and achieve lasting stability,” she added.

SLEEC project manager Bryony Ball said the money would go towards supporting people affected by gender-based violence.

“As an organisation, our emergency response work is affordable by being flexible and immediate and we feel privileged to receive this funding,” she said.

Jenny Perez, Head of Trusts and Foundations Caring in Bristol, said: “The TAP initiative enables people and businesses in Bristol to support our projects which help prevent homelessness as well as supporting young people through crisis.

“Together we create lasting change.”

Bristol City Center BID founded TAP for Bristol in partnership with Caring for Bristol in 2019.

The initiative is now also supported by Redcliffe and Temple BID.

Ms Lee said: “The three chosen charities do incredible work in helping 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 they do “.