AN annual fundraiser which asks kind-hearted Scots to donate £5 to buy a meal for a homeless person at Christmas has launched.

Itison said their Social Bite fundraiser will also buy a Christmas gift for kids and families affected by homelessness.

Last year over 70,000 meals and nearly 40,000 Christmas gifts were donated through the campaign raising £566,830.

Over 400,000 donations have been made since the partnership launched in 2014 - with £2,064,349 raised over that time.

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Glasgow Times:

Oli Norman, CEO at itison, said: “Every year we are astounded and delighted with the support and generosity of our members for our Social Bite campaign. The impact our annual campaign has had on Social Bite’s mission to end homelessness and support the homeless community with free meals throughout the year has been incredible.  

“Our work with Social Bite forms part of our charitable arm of the business, itison us, which in addition to our work with Social Bite has seen us partner with the businesses we work with to donate thousands of vouchers each month to brilliant local charities in the communities we work.”  

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Glasgow Times:

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, added: “Your donations make a massive difference to the work we do with people experiencing homelessness throughout the entire year – not just at Christmas. We couldn’t do it without you so once again we’d love you to get behind the campaign, share it with all your friends and help the people who need it the very most.”  

Glasgow Times:

In Scotland, Social Bite’s Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen cafes will open their doors to the homeless on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to serve festive dinners with all the trimmings, offering food and company at what is one of the loneliest times of the year for many.

Glasgow Times:  

itison’s annual Christmas fundraiser has also played an integral part in the development of the Social Bite Village which launched in May 2018. The Social Bite Village provides an innovative housing model and a supported and nurturing environment for 20 people at a time to transition from homelessness back into society.  

Glasgow Times:

To donate £5 to buy a Christmas dinner for a homeless person or give a Christmas gift – visit www.itison.com/donate.

In Scotland, 100% of money raised will be donated to Social Bite while The Booth Centre in Manchester and the North West will also benefit.