Longstanding support: the River Cafe raised £14,000 alone
(Picture: Richard Bryant)Diners across the country have raised £750,000 for the homeless, following another successful StreetSmart campaign. It adds to the more than £12million that the charity has put towards good causes since its founding 25 years ago.
StreetSmart’s scheme, which adds an optional £1 donation to diners’ bills, raised a record total, with London restaurants alone contributing over a quarter of a million pounds. Across the UK, 550 restaurants participated in the program, which helps more than 50 homeless charities. The simple scheme, which costs restaurant’s nothing and diners pennies, is supported by LandAid, who cover all the campaign’s costs. As such, every penny of what’s raised goes towards helping those who need it.
London restaurant groups led the way in contributions, with JKS — who operate, among others, Gymkhana and the Arcade Food Hall — raising more than £18,000, while MEATliquor donations topped £27,000; Scott Collins’ group is a long-time supporter of the charity. Elsewhere, Harvey Nichols raised nearly £40,000 across their estate, while Selfridges hauled in £97,000 in donations from their London and UK outposts. Other notable names to help include Mildred’s, which raised nearly £15,000; Fallow, which donated £17,000; the Cubitt House group, which raised £24,000; and The River Cafe, a long time supporter of the campaign that raised £14,000.
Paul Morrish, LandAid’s chief executive, said of the record amount raised: “I am delighted at the total raised from the 2022 StreetSmart campaign.
“LandAid are proud of the special relationship that we have with StreetSmart, and it has been amazing to see such enthusiasm across the hospitality and property industries in supporting the campaign, particularly during some testing years. This small choice will create huge impact in supporting homelessness projects that will bring both relief and security to those who need it most across the country.”
Among the 50 or so charities helped by the initiative is Glass Door. According to Glass Door’s most recent figures, there were more than 3,500 rough sleepers in London between October and December of last year, representing a 21 per cent increase on the year before. Glass Door CEO Jo Carter commented: “As temperatures plummet, it is becoming life-threatening to be sleeping on the street.
“Glass Door’s vital night shelter circuits are open to provide those with nowhere else to go somewhere safe and warm to sleep. We’re proud to have been working with StreetSmart for 15 years. This year, their donation could support 50 guests to stay in our emergency winter night shelter for one week.”
