News / charity
How an extra £1 on dining bills is boosting a charity’s ‘scaffolding of support’
The “scaffolding of support” provided to homeless young people by a charity in Old Market has received a boost, thanks to diners across restaurants in Bristol and beyond.
Nearly 30 restaurants in Bristol now support StreetSmart’s annual fundraising initiative, where diners can add an optional £1 to their overall bill, which is then pooled together and donated to homelessness charities across the country.
But who does this £1 from diners’ bank accounts actually help?
1625 Independent People in Old Market is set to undergo a large-scale refurbishment, thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund – photo: Karen Johnson
In Bristol, it becomes an additional hand of support for charities like 1625 Independent People, supporting young people tackling homelessness.
Formerly known as East Bristol Youth Housing Association, the charity located in Kingsley Hall on Old Market Street opened 42 years ago and has since helped thousands of people aged between 16 to 25 with temporary accommodation and support services to hopefully one day make them fully independent.
“Think about yourself as a 16, 17 or 21-year-old,” said Rebecca Ball, a programme manager at the charity. “Imagine not having that sort of scaffolding of support from your family or a parent. And for whatever reason, you’re out there in the world trying to get on your feet by yourself.”
Funds raised through StreetSmart’s annual initiative have contributed towards employing coaches for 1625 Independent People’s education, employment and training (EET) programmes.
1625 Independent People hold an annual Sleep Out night, meant to “stand in solidarity with young people facing homelessness” – photo: 1625 Independent People
Mel Lavin, who manages the EET programmes on behalf of the charity, said: “When the initial urgent challenges of homelessness are over, people start looking ahead and they start to think about what pathway they can follow.
“A lot of the young people we support have experienced challenges accessing mainstream education and may have no or few formal qualifications.
“Initially it can just be about helping young people to get back into the education system. Then progressing to apprenticeships and employment when they are ready to do so.”
In 2024-2025 alone, 265 young care leavers were offered places on the Reboot West Impact Trial, a flagship project to support the charity’s EET efforts.
In November and December 2024, the StreetSmart initiative raised £1,027,000 nationwide all from £1 per table donations at more than 600 restaurants across the country – photo: StreetSmart
Operating across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, 1625 Independent People supports a range of young people aged between 16 to 25 including care experienced young people, refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced a wide range of challenges including mental health, a history of trauma and adverse childhood experiences.
Ball added: “Our organisation is not only about providing a roof over the head, it really is helping build essential skills as well as supporting young people to connect with their values and make positive, strengths based plans for their life ahead.
“It’s about getting them to say, ‘okay this happened to me in the past, but that’s not all I am. I am a person who has aspirations with goals and has a vision for my future.’
“We’re there to provide them with all the tools they need to really kind of make that happen.”
…………………………………………………………………….
Do you know a community group or individual that deserves the spotlight?
Let us know by nominating them as a Bristol Community Legend.
…………………………………………………………………….
StreetSmart, which first started its unique fundraising concept in 1998, has since raised £15m and partnered with 610 restaurants across the country.
Pam Lloyd, who leads StreetSmart’s operations in Bristol, said: “I am delighted to work with all our restaurant partners and I would love to see more Bristol restaurants join the StreetSmart movement.
“It really is such a simple concept, so easy to take part and so impactful once the funds are collected and in use by projects such as 1625 Independent People.”
Outside London, Bristol has the highest number of restaurants in the country that have pledged their support to StreetSmart’s fundraising initiative in 2025.
The restaurants participating in StreetSmart 2025 are:
Bertha’s
Bokman
Bombil
Bosco, Clifton
Bosco, Whiteladies Road
Box-E
Caper & Cure
COR
Cotto
Dongnae
Granary
Harbour House
Harvey Nicholls
Kal Dosa
Little Hollows
Mangosteen, Cotham Hill
Mangosteen, Gloucester Road
Mangosteen, North Street
Marmo
Nadu
Nutmeg
Nutmeg Street Kitchen
Pasta Ripiena
Pizzucci
Prego
Ragu
Rock Salt
Snobby’s
Wilsons
1625 Independent People’s next Sleep Out night is on Thursday at the Lloyds Amphitheatre. Tickets can be purchased here: register.enthuse.com/ps/event/RegisterSleepOut2025
Main photo: Karen Johnson
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
