First West of England helping to make Bristol the city that solves homelessness
First West of England has joined a campaign to tackle homelessness in Bristol with an initiative which has already raised £100,000.
The bus operator is the latest business in the city to join TAP for Bristol – a scheme designed to make giving to charity easier by allowing users to make a donation through contactless by simply swiping their debit/credit card or smart phone at high profile contact points across the city.
First’s TAP point has been installed at the city’s main bus station on Marlborough Street.
Speaking on World Homeless Day (10th October), Bristol Bus and Coach Station’s Operations Manager, Carole Stevens, said: “We’re so proud of our links with our local communities, and this project is directly helping one of those communities which can sometimes be overlooked – rough sleepers in our city.
“By joining TAP for Bristol, we’re becoming part of a family of organisations and businesses in the city which is helping Bristol become the city that solves homelessness.
“The TAP panel at Bristol’s Bus and Coach Station will now give the 30,000 people who pass through the station every day a quick and easy way to donate £3 to tackling homelessness.”
First West of England now joins a host of other high-profile names in the city which are already collecting for rough sleepers through the TAP initiative, including the Bristol Hippodrome and Temple Meads Station, as well as shops, cafes, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, many of which have donation panels on their windows.
Launched in September 2019, the TAP initiative aims to make Bristol the city that solves homelessness, and has since raised about £25,000 per year on average through its contactless donation points, JustGiving Page and donations from businesses.
Delivered by Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with Caring in Bristol and supported by Redcliffe & Temple BID, TAP for Bristol has helped those at risk of homelessness by providing emergency grants via local charities, in addition to enabling Caring in Bristol to continue its vital homelessness prevention projects.
Paula Ratcliffe, TAP Bristol’s Business Liaison Manager, said: “We are delighted to have a new donation point at the bus station, and welcome First Bus to the family of host businesses across the city centre. This comes at a pivotal time in the project, as 50% of all future donations will now go towards funding for Caring in Bristol’s Z House shelter, helping to prevent young people from living a life on the streets.”
Notes to editors
Believed to be the fastest growing donation system of any city - with 25 businesses and organisations around the city centre installing a TAP for Bristol point on their premises - the initiative raises money for homelessness prevention services as well as directly supporting people who are in need of emergency support.
All money raised is divided equally between Caring in Bristol’s homelessness prevention work and grants to other organisations who run projects providing emergency funding for those experiencing homelessness. To date, this emergency aspect of the fund has been provided to Second Step, St Mungo’s, One25, 1625 Independent People, Next Link and also Caring in Bristol’s Caring at Christmas Campaign.
During the past four years, the emergency funding has helped over 744 individuals, providing them with necessities and household items to help them build a life away from the street, whilst the prevention aspect of the funding has assisted over 700 people and families to stay in their homes. The improved knowledge and understanding of their housing rights means that they are much less likely to become homeless in the long term and this knowledge will be imparted to other family members, friends, neighbours and help a much wider demographic over time.