Diners eating out in London this Christmas are being asked to add £1 to their restaurant bill to help homeless people — a small gesture that has raised millions since it began.
Streetsmart, the charitable initiative behind the scheme, is encouraging diners to add an optional £1 to their bills during November and December, with all of the money going directly to support people who are homeless.
More than 600 restaurants across the country are supporting the initiative, including some of the best in the country — between them, the participating restaurants hold a combined 62 Michelin stars and 304 AA Rosettes.
How the £1 works
At participating restaurants, a voluntary £1 donation is added to the bill. It is clearly indicated on the menu or through a table card, so diners know about it before they pay.
The donation is added after the service charge and VAT, which means it does not affect VAT returns — and Streetsmart says taking part does not affect tipping levels either. Electronic tills record the donations, and the money collected is passed on to Streetsmart at the end of each month.
Anyone who does not want to take part can simply ask for the £1 to be removed from the bill. The donation is entirely optional.
One of the key features of the scheme is that all of its running and operational costs are covered by sponsors. That means every penny of the £1 goes directly to helping people in need, rather than being eaten up by administration.
Where the money goes
Streetsmart works with a range of charities to make sure the money has the greatest impact. The funds provide for immediate needs, helping adults and children living on the streets, and for longer-term solutions — supplying the skills and resources people need to get back on their feet.
The initiative has been running its festive dining campaign since 1998. Last year alone it raised £1,178,000 to support homeless people in the UK, and to date it has worked with 652 restaurants which together have raised £16.2 million.
A difficult winter ahead
Homelessness remains a pressing issue in London and across the UK, and the winter months are particularly challenging for those without a home. Cold nights, wet weather and shorter days make life on the streets harder, and demand on shelters and outreach services rises sharply at this time of year.
That is why the festive period matters so much to charities working with homeless people — and why a scheme built around something as ordinary as a meal out has proved so durable. For diners, it is a pound on a bill. For the charities it funds, it adds up to shelter, food, advice and a route back into stable housing.
Diners who want to take part can look out for a note on the menu or a table card at participating restaurants. More information, including a list of restaurants involved, is available on the Streetsmart website.
