The national StreetSmart campaign launched on Tuesday 1st November.
StreetSmart works by participating restaurants adding £1 to all customers’ bills throughout November and December. This is a voluntary contribution and the amount is the same no matter how big the party. The money raised is collected in January and is donated to Greater Manchester’s homeless charities.
With a range of Manchester’s best restaurants participating this small gift adds up to a serious impact on the lives of the local homeless population. The 2015 campaign raised over £15,000 for Greater Manchester charities.
This year, with the help of some of the city’s hottest new restaurants, Manchester hopes to smash last year’s total as the crème de la crème of the dining scene gets behind the campaign in 2016!
Customers who want to give something extra when they dine this Christmas can do so by visiting the following Greater Manchester restaurants…
Salvi’s Corn Exchange, Manchester
The River Restaurant, Lowry Hotel Restaurant, Salford
Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols, City Centre
Tariff and Dale, Northern Quarter
Turtle Bay Northern Quarter
Turtle Bay Oxford Street.
Grafene, Manchester
The StreetSmart campaign is unique in that 100% of the monies collected go direct to LOCAL homeless organisations, thanks to the generosity of sponsors Deutsche Bank.
Last year, the money that Manchester’s dining community raised helped to make possible the, often lifesaving, projects and work of organisations including The Booth Centre, Barnubus and The Wellspring. These organisations are focused on helping individuals break the cycle, regain their dignity and rebuild their lives via positive action, as well as providing crisis and emergency shelter and food.
With an already impressive list of committed and compassionate restaurants signed up StreetSmart are urging restaurants who’d like to help make a real difference to Manchester, to sign up to the campaign as last minute Christmas helpers!
Glenn Pougnet, Director of StreetSmart said:
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of the restaurants who have signed up to StreetSmart this year – the list reflects an amazing time for Manchester’s dining scene, we’re delighted such fantastic new restaurants in the city on board! We’d be delighted to have even more join in. StreetSmart was designed to allow the hospitality industry to give something back to those who aren’t lucky enough to enjoy the festive season in the same ways as their customers. Just that small commitment can make such a difference, and to an issue that effects us all.”
Amy Hinks from Booth Centre Manchester (one of the city’s longest standing beneficiaries of the campaign) says StreetSmart is one of their most vital partnerships:
“We’re delighted to be one of the beneficiary charities supported by StreetSmart. The vital funds raised help us to provide our catering training project which supports people with experience of homelessness to undertake work placements and training in our centre’s kitchen. The project also helps to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for around 100 people each day who visit the Booth Centre for support. The StreetSmart initiative is making a big difference to the lives of homeless people in our city. Thanks to all the restaurants supporting us this year!”
StreetSmart runs from 1st November to 31st December.
Full lists of participating restaurants and charities can be found at www.streetsmart.org.uk.
