CARING AT CHRISTMAS 2020 - Supporting those experiencing homelessness at Christmas for over three decades
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CARING AT CHRISTMAS 2020 Supporting those experiencing homelessness at Christmas for over three decades Proudly based in St Pauls and Old Market
Our most challenging Christmas ever The theme of Caring in Bristol’s Christmas campaign was ‘This City Can.’ That community spirit and proactive attitude powered this year’s Caring at Christmas project. Being there for our clients at an acutely difficult time of year, against a backdrop of a global pandemic, an economic recession, and rising pressure on public services and the voluntary sector, all fuelled by over-demand and increasingly scarce resources was tough but non-negotiable. This is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in 31 years running this project, but the people of Bristol don’t give up on the most vulnerable in our community, and neither do we. I am proud that when faced with the challenge of supporting our clients, in a way that had to be COVID safe and designed around protecting them in full sincerity, Caring in Bristol rose to the challenge. Partnered with, and supported by, thousands of members of our community. Because This City Can work together to support those without homes at Christmas, and beyond. Caring in Bristol’s vision is creating a city empowered to solve homelessness and our Caring at Christmas project embodies that in its entirety. Ben Richardson, Director, Caring in Bristol
Your impact this Christmas,
at a glance 50
meals per day supplied to BOSH to support
397
people rough sleeping
383
vulnerable people kept safe and well What our clients said:
125
miles covered by delivery drivers over three “My dog says thanks, she loved her
days squeaky toy!”
volunteers donated their time to Caring
77%
at Christmas “Amazing food, thank you so much”
911
men “You’re doing an incredible job, it makes a real
difference to people’s lives. You should all
23%
Michelin-quality hot meals delivered across be proud”
three days
women
350
beautiful handmade Christmas wellbeing packs 22 children
delivered, including Christmas cards, health
6 dogs!
and wellbeing products, crafting activities, hand
sanitizer and face-masks.
Great food and Christmas cheer delivered with a smile to people in 76 locations across Bristol from Hartcliffe to Avonmouth
This City Can deliver
hope in a pandemic
“We had two strong desires leading the design of this project. One, to create the
social interaction that is so valuable for the mental wellbeing of our clients. And
two, to curate a project that supported their immediate needs, whilst protecting their
vulnerable health, with many suffering chronic health conditions leaving them highly
exposed to the virus.
Stretching from Christmas Eve to the 27th we teamed up with chefs, restaurants
and our community to create a three day programme of Michelin quality food,
individual gift packages, presents, mental health support and importantly care.
Using volunteers, each meal and care package would be hand-delivered to each
individual we supported, reaching over 75 locations across Bristol, the largest reach
the project has ever had.
“The responsibility for protecting our vulnerable clients was
Whilst in previous years clients had come to us, this year it was vital we went directly our highest priority, which is also why it is imperative we
to them. For the first time ever at Christmas Caring in Bristol supported young continue being present for them throughout this
families, including 22 children (and six dogs!).” harsh Winter.”
Eve Russell, Project Manager Lisa Spice, Assistant Director
Type of accommodation delivered to:
4%
16% Vulnerably housed
Those rough sleeping
1%
11% Derelict house
Temporary and
Emergency
Accommodation
40%
Hotel/hostel
(Those rough
9% sleeping placed into
accommodation by the
Supported
Everyone In initiative)
Accommodation
5% 4%
Those in private
accommodation who
10% Those in Housing
Association properties
People newly housed who
needed extra support
need extra support who need extra supportThis City Can work together brilliantly Caring in Bristol’s core values By collaborating with community Delivering to clients working with “Thank you very much, I know are collaboration, people first partners, charities and action more than 10 local organisations that many families will have and focus on the end goal. It’s groups, we were able to reach supporting homeless and been really glad to receive these these values that shaped how and engage with a broader vulnerable people in Bristol very kind Caring at Christmas we supported our clients this range of clients than previous including Bristol City Council, St deliveries.” past Christmas. When tasked years. Importantly we were able Mungo’s, Salvation Army, Bristol with reshaping a project around to support those on the margins of Refugee Rights, One25, Golden Bristol Refugee Rights protecting their health we housing vulnerability in temporary Key, Second Step, BOSH and immediately asked our clients and emergency housing more. This level of community “One of our clients who received what it is they wanted. Using alongside those sleeping rough. collaboration is a great step the packages from you was very volunteers we surveyed hundreds towards solving homelessness very grateful and described it as of clients that we had regular in Bristol. a life saver – not just the food but contact with, asking them what seeing the friendly faces too!” support and care they wanted this Christmas. Their verbal and Recovery for All written answers formed the basis of Caring at Christmas 2020.
This City Can create fantastic Partner organisations
collaborated with:
food for everyone Pony & Trap, Salt & Malt,
Bianchis, Pasta Loco, BOSH,
The Community Farm, The
Menu Pumphouse, Tare, St. Monica
Working with top-quality The Bristol hospitality industry — Trust, 91 Ways, Emmeline, The
restaurants helps us bridge the gave so much, so readily, and A full Christmas dinner with all the Lazy Dog, Poco, The Lock Up,
trimmings including sprouts tossed in
gap between what is available in the face of such uncertainty, Pearly King Cakes.
bacon and extra cheesy cauliflower
in the city and what is accessible and we are immensely grateful. cheese by the Pony & Trap
to our clients. We want to open Thousands of Bristolians also What our clients said:
doors to every part of Bristol and supported Caring at Christmas Fish and chips, battered sausage, and
halloumi & chips - with lots of curry
food experiences are a using the local-food app Wriggle, “Best fish & chips I’ve had in a
sauce by Salt & Malt
great equaliser. purchasing Caring in Bristol’s long time”
‘Buy someone experiencing Turkey & salsiccia sausage lasagne “Amazing food, thank you
We have forged strong homelessness Christmas Lunch’ and truffle & datterini lasagne by so much”
relationships with our hospitality deal and making a huge impact. Pasta Loco and Bianchis
partners throughout this year and All diets catered for:
given the shocks and challenges
their sector has experienced we Gluten Free, Vegan, Halal
are especially grateful for their Kosher, Dairy Free.
support and collaborative effort.
911 934 300 400
hot meals chilled meals puddings chocolate orangesThis City Can bring 350 6
Christmas Cheer to
Christmas cards, handmade and dogs receiving toys, food, and
handwritten by volunteers care packages
350 22
every doorstep Crafting activity packs especially
designed and packed for
children received specially
selected gifts
the project
3
350
“Caring in Bristol were really “It was great thing to facilitate and
keen that our clients didn’t I love that clients who received the TVs (and lots of DVDs!) gifted as
miss out on the social spirit of packs might be able to enjoy a Health & Wellbeing packs presents to temporary houses
Christmas. Volunteers wrote creative hour or two over a very distributed including masks and to helpwith lockdown
hundreds of Christmas cards, strange and perhaps isolating hand sanitiser to keep
created personalised gingerbread festive period.” people safe
men, and distributed specially-
350 personalised
created packs of gifts and crafting Craft Expert Emma, Chandos Atelier
activities assembled by Chandos What our clients said:
Atelier, including presents for gingerbread men baked by
children and even food and toys Leanne Purton of Pearly King “The art items are great”
for clients’ canine companions.” Cakes and decorated by
our volunteers “Loved the gingerbread men!”
Eve Russell, Project ManagerThis City Can go the
extra mile
Jamie Smith, Project Coordinator Volunteers then load up their It’s on the road then, delivering “We wanted to maintain the
explains a typical delivery vehicle with all the Christmas to each address and stopping for magic of being a part of our
volunteer shift experience: packages for each person they a short chat with every person at volunteering family at Christmas,
are delivering to on their route, each stop, wishing them a Merry so we hosted online social
“All our delivery volunteers are taking care to match their names Christmas. opportunities for volunteers to
thoroughly prepared prior to their and if they have a child, or a dog. connect. It was important for us
shift, receiving their individual After all the deliveries are made to make sure everyone knew
route and a full briefing a week in The next step is to pick up the hot there’s a short debrief with a staff they were a part of something
advance. A typical route will have meals from the kitchen location, member to check how everything incredibly special.”
around ten delivery stop-off points where again they’re greeted by went, and feedback on our clients
to reach within a certain amount a Caring in Bristol staff member mood and health. A Caring in Claire Coleman, Project
of time. On the day, each driver who hands over the exact meals Bristol staff member is on-call for Coordinator
receives an in-person run-down of they need for each person. This is delivery volunteers at all times
the day’s plan from myself or an important process as we take during shifts, so we support every
my colleagues. people’s dietary requirements step of the way.”
really seriously.125 22 Hear from our volunteers:
volunteers donated volunteers completed
their time to Caring Golden Key training “Loved the online training [on
at Christmas on ‘Creating Safe creating] safe and inclusive
and Inclusive Spaces’ spaces. It was very useful and I
136
felt more prepared to deal with
potential difficult situations.”
number of shifts Volunteers gave
completed their experience an “It was ace! Everything seemed
average score of to run smoothly and easy. The
9.5/10
staff at CiB are always lovely and
415
friendly too.”
volunteer hours “[My best moment was] being
85%
logged in total told by one of the recipients
that he had had a wonderful
of volunteers said Christmas thanks to us.”
they felt ‘very well
383
prepared’ with the “It was great to be involved in
remaining 15% several aspects of the preparation
miles covered by feeling ‘well prepared’ and delivery of Caring at
delivery drivers over Christmas so [I] felt very involved
three days in its success.”Partnerships in the City As featured in: Thank you to all of our community partners who supported this ambitious project and helped bring it to life. Toby at The Pumphouse All of our amazing volunteers and supporters Matt at Tare Irwin Mitchell Adrian & Kalpna from St Monicas Trust / 91 Ways Astley Trust Shona & Mike from Emmeline Albert Hunt Trust Nick from The Lazy Dog 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust Jen and Ian from Poco J&M Britton Trust Alexis John, Maya Indelicato & Candice Bryant Desmond Harris Trust Aidan from The Lock Up Thompson Trust Bristol All the team at Pasta Loco and Bianchis Cabot Circus Community Support Scheme Josh Eggleton and the Pony & Trap team GT Pearce Charitable Trust Salt & Malt Kate’s Kitchen ABM Catering Gopal’s Curry Shack Pearly King Cakes Chandos Atelier The Community Farm BOSH Lloyds Bank Bristol Paws Project
The Night Shelter • 14 Little Bishop Street • St Pauls, Bristol, BS2 9JF • Tel: +44(0)117 924 4444 • info@caringinbristol.org.uk Registered charity in England and Wales Number: 1151645 • Company Number 08419424 • Registered Office: Caring in Bristol Ltd
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