Bristol’s finest culinary talent is coming together to feed the city’s homeless this Christmas

Local homelessness charity, Caring in Bristol has launched its ‘Caring at Christmas’ appeal - but they need your help.

Slated to be the biggest homelessness project in the South West this year, Caring at Christmas will support over 400 homeless and vulnerable individuals.

It will be providing breakfast, lunch and snacks from Christmas Eve until December 30.

Partnering with the Trinity Centre in Old Market, where it will set up a pop-up day centre, it plans on offering advice and activities alongside the food.

Restaurant-quality sit down meals will be provided to those at Trinity Centre but will also be delivered across Bristol to about 200 people in temporary or emergency accommodation.

The food will come from some of Bristol’s finest culinary talent including Square Food Foundation, St Monica’s Trust, Jamaica Street Stores, Emmeline, Season and Taste, and Team Canteen.

Christmas Eve’s meal at Trinity will be provided by Pieminister and the Christmas Day meal by Michelin-starred Josh Eggleton and the team behind the Pony & Trap.

The meal delivery service will include hot food, toiletries and a Christmas hamper.

The Christmas Eve meal will be provided by Bianchi’s while the Christmas Day meal will be provided by Josh Eggleton. They will additionally have a Boxing Day meal delivered from Salt and Malt.

All of this costs a lot of money and with covid changing the way they had to operate they are appealing to the public for donations to ensure that they can run their service as planned.

Director of Caring in Bristol, Ben Richardson said: “The economic reality in Bristol, mixed with limited housing and strained crisis support has led to the increased scenes of people sleeping rough in Broadmead that we are all witnessing.

“Those people we see every day walking through the centre need a warm sanctuary to visit throughout the Christmas week, and we are proud to provide that - but we need donations to achieve it.”

Mike Orme, Caring at Christmas project manager says of the necessity of the service: “This is an incredibly needed service that supports people at one of the harshest times of year for those without a home. The more support the services receive, the more people we can provide a Christmas fo.”

For just £25 a vulnerable person could be housed and fed on Christmas. Donate here.