Neighbourly Launches National Campaign to Help the Homeless this Christmas

‘No Place Like Home’ calls on individuals and businesses to help local community projects

Bristol, 11 December 2017 – Social platform Neighbourly, which connects businesses and individuals with charities and community projects, has launched a new campaign aimed at helping anyone with no place to call home this Christmas, from those sleeping rough to those being provided for by foodbanks, temporary shelters or refuges.

"No Place Like Home will provide a platform for more than 50 charities and projects across the UK", enabling them to reach local individuals who want to help. The requests for support range from funding for food items, warm clothing and sleeping bags and tents, as well as bags for belongings, toys and board games.

Homelessness is currently at its highest rate since the 1990s, and local organisations (many of which are run by volunteers) are being forced to do more with their dwindling resources. Further pressure is being exerted because of local council cuts and less funding for homeless organisations, as well as cuts to mental health provision which has also led to a rise in homelessness. No Place Like Home brings charities and community projects together in one place so individuals and companies can contribute.

“Having a safe place to call home enables us to focus on our wellbeing, employment and social lives, but homelessness (or the threat of it) can happen all too quickly and easily,” commented Nick Davies, founder of Neighbourly. “What has hit hardest is the reduction of support for local authorities, meaning that councils have had to cut back on support for those working with the most dispossessed. This campaign aims to support projects delivering essential services to people who, for whatever reason, need emergency support from a local charity.”

Neighbourly devised the campaign following feedback from its community asking for specific help this year as homelessness levels are anticipated to rise to the same numbers seen in the 1990s. It hopes that business backers, keen to lend their brand to help raise awareness, and local individuals will contribute to the projects they care about through individual donations.

“We rely on local donors, support from businesses, fundraising events and grant applications to keep going. We receive some support from the council to help meet the increasing demand for our service, but demand is continuing to rise,” added Emma Greenough from the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield.

The homelessness crisis is currently at its worst. Officially, more than 4,130 people slept rough every night in the UK in 2016, a 16% rise on the previous year and more than double the 2010 figure (1). The true figure is many times higher. It is estimated that 62 per cent of homelessness is ‘hidden’ (2) because it includes people who become homeless but find a temporary solution such as staying with friends or living in a squat. Professionals unable to cope with rent hikes are now being affected by homelessness.

How to get involved:

• Getting involved is easy. Simply go to www.neighbourly.com/NoPlaceLikeHome and choose a project in your region to give whatever you can.
• To see the geographical spread of the projects go to www.neighbourly.com/projects?q=noplacelikehome and click on ‘Show Map’.
• The campaign will run until February 2018.

Homelessness organisations who need funding or donations are welcome to join the campaign – please email hello@neighbourly.com for more info.

Watch the campaign film at https://vimeo.com/246071983.

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Notes to Editors

References:
(1) http://www.homeless.org.uk/facts/homelessness-in-numbers/rou...
(2) http://www.homeless.org.uk/facts/homelessness-in-numbers/hid...

About Neighbourly

Neighbourly is an award-winning social platform that matches charities and community projects with people and companies that can help. It uses technology to connect and enable communities, individuals and organisations to help local causes through volunteering, financial and product donations and surplus food.

Visit: www.neighbourly.com
Follow: @nbrly
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbrlyuk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neighbourly

Press contacts:
Kate Gordon
Brightspark PR for neighbourly
T: 07980 921961
E: kate@brightsparkpr.co.uk