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Four years in, TAP for Bristol has raised £100,000 to support city’s vulnerable

UK’s first contactless donation system to fund homelessness prevention and emergency support has 25 TAP points across the city - with average donation figures hitting £25,000 per year.

27/09/2023

Four years after its inception, TAP for Bristol, has raised £100,000 in support of the city’s homeless.

Launched in September 2019, the initiative aims to make Bristol the city that solves homelessness and has since raised £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 recently 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.

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.

The donations generated through fundraising are facilitated, managed and evaluated by Quartet Community Foundation on behalf of TAP for Bristol. 

Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, says:

Bristol has truly embraced TAP for Bristol and it shows in the generous donation number of £100,000. What a milestone! TAP for Bristol offers a simple way to donate, safe in the knowledge that every penny will be used to tackle homelessness through both prevention work and emergency support. We can’t wait to see where it goes from here, but what a journey so far. Thank you, Bristol.

Ian Byworth, CEO of Caring in Bristol, has commented:

Over the past four years, TAP funding has been a huge support to Caring in Bristol’s work in preventing homelessness. It has made it easy for Bristolians to donate to great causes - and has helped people across the city move their lives forwards, away from the brink of homelessness. We really appreciate the support of Bristol City Centre BID, its members and the public in supporting our mission to create solutions to homelessness in Bristol.

Steve Bluff, Head of Redcliffe & Temple BID, added:

Our businesses have been keen to continue the support they have given to TAP since 2022, so we have recently increased our investment and commitment to this hugely impactful initiative. We feel there are even more opportunities for local businesses to get involved by considering TAP as their nominated workplace charity.
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