Homeless charity StreetSmart has launched its annual campaign, once again partnering with restaurants and diners across the UK to raise money for homelessness projects.
Now in its 27th year, StreetSmart works with restaurants each November and December to collect voluntary £1 donations from diners when they pay their bill. The funds are passed on to StreetSmart, which distributes them to local homeless charities providing food, shelter, training and employment support.
This year, over 650 restaurants have signed up, including newcomers Lilibet’s, One Club Row, Rosi, Plates, Kudu, Motorino, Lupa, Canal and Wildflowers. They join a long list of returning supporters that includes some of the UK’s most respected restaurants and chefs, such as St John, The River Cafe, Clare Smyth (Core) and Hélène Darroze (Hélène Darroze at The Connaught).
Darroze says: ‘For those of us fortunate enough to be able to pick and choose when and what to eat, StreetSmart is a way to support people who simply don’t know where their next meal will come from. At a time when the world has felt more divided than ever, it has never been more important to look out for our most vulnerable neighbours.’
In 2024, StreetSmart raised over £1 million for the first time in its 25 year history, funding close to 50 different projects nationwide. Crucially, donations stay local - if you give £1 in Manchester, it goes towards helping people experiencing homelessness in Manchester.
The campaign’s return comes amid rising levels of homelessness across the UK. Government figures show that at the end of March 2024, more than 320,000 households were experiencing homelessness - up 8% year-on-year and the highest figure in a decade. On a single night that autumn, an estimated 4,667 people were sleeping rough - a 20% rise from the previous year. Meanwhile, The Big Issue reports that one in every 200 UK households is now affected, giving the country the highest rate of homelessness in the developed world.
Although the government has pledged more funding in its latest budget, StreetSmart’s work remains a vital part of the fight against homelessness - proving the power of small acts of generosity to make a big difference.
SquareMeal Restaurants Editor Pete Dreyer said: ‘An extra quid at the end of your meal is small change, but it makes such a huge difference. That £1 can help to keep someone off the streets for good - it’s the easiest decision you'll ever have to make in a restaurant.’
If you want to play your part, there are participating restaurants spread all over the UK - you can see a full list at streetsmart.org.uk. For more news just like this, sign up to the SquareMeal Newsletter, and get our pick of the best new restaurants, hottest news, limited-time SquareMeal Rewards offers and more, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.