Changing lives through partnerships

No one person, organisation or charity can end homelessness. Instead, we can pull together to affect the greatest change by drawing on each other’s strengths and local knowledge.

 

The origin of grant giving at Social Bite

In 2017, Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park raised over £4 million. This was more than enough to fund research and other work that would lead to the launch of Housing First in Scotland. But Social Bite was still a young charity – we could only expand so fast. It was important that the money was put to good use as soon as possible, so we asked the people who used our free food service how they thought we could best use it.

From these conversations, we heard about many other amazing grassroots organisations and community groups who supported people affected by homelessness, across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and beyond. Because we’re all in this together, working towards ending homelessness, we used some of the funds raised from Sleep in the Park to make grants to the organisations that were most often mentioned.

When we heard about the difference these grants made to other grassroots groups, we wanted to continue to help.

 

Reaching more people affected by homelessness

Today, Social Bite partners with remarkable organisations throughout the UK, enhancing regional outreach and community impact while nurturing a culture of collaboration.

Each year, we supply grants to grassroots organisations and local community groups in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, enabling them to provide meals over Christmas and during the winter months. Our partners help to provide food and accommodation for homeless and vulnerable people across the UK. Meals are provided via a wide range of services, such as:

• mental health groups
• community centres
• drop-in centres for people affected by homelessness
• temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness
• food parcels for families in poverty.

Through these grants, our partners can reach people affected by homelessness in their local communities. In 2023, we partnered with 103 local organisations and funded thousands of meals a month on average.

We choose grant recipients who align with our vision of a society where no one should have to be homeless. Organisations’ values should echo ours too, such as using food to build trusting relationships or to provide wraparound support that improves an individual’s circumstances.

 

The difference a grant can make

We look for groups that provide other person-centred approaches and services alongside food, such as access to dental care, substance misuse support, housing support, or counselling. Changing Lives is one of those groups.

Changing Lives is a charitable organisation in York that has been helping people facing some of the most challenging circumstances for over 50 years. They’ve partnered with Social Bite since 2018 and have received grants worth thousands of pounds over the past six years.

Changing Lives uses the grant money to address the most common causes of social exclusion and long-term deprivation in their local area, including housing and homelessness, addiction, abuse and exploitation, and unemployment. They believe this gives people the best chance to create lasting change and positively transform their lives for good.

In 2023, Changing Lives used a proportion of their grant funding on their Chocolate & Co. Café, which is primarily staffed by individuals in recovery. £100 was allocated for buying basic food parcels for people accessing the service, and the support was distributed among individuals experiencing homelessness or residing in temporary accommodation without cooking facilities.

Changing Lives’ Chocolate and Co. cafe in York 

 

Making Christmas special

When you donate during Festival of Kindness, your contribution provides more than just a meal – it reaches people in need across the UK.

Alice Fisher, Changing Lives’ Corporate Fundraising Manager, explains.

“Social Bite has been an incredible support for our services at Changing Lives for many years. The funding has helped us to provide vital food parcels, bring people together, develop budgeting skills, and help individuals regain stability and self-sufficiency.

“Over the last six years, the grants have enabled us to provide Christmas dinner to each resident across our housing and homelessness projects. Many residents prepared, served, and enjoyed their Christmas dinners together with our frontline staff.

“Alongside the Christmas dinners, we were also able to provide each resident with Christmas presents to open on Christmas Day. Having the opportunity to come together with others to celebrate, get involved in the festivities, and even receive a Christmas gift is something many of the people we support have been unable to do before. With the support of Social Bite, we were able to make Christmas – which can often be a lonely and isolating time – special for our residents.”