Save lives this winter!

Our 1611 Campaign remembers the people who tragically passed away whilst homeless last year, and seeks to ensure we prevent as many homeless deaths as possible over the coming winter months within our community.

Winter is the toughest time for homeless and vulnerably housed people. Each year rough sleepers die from hyperthermia after being exposed to the harsh winter climate. Even those in housing suffer, with nearly 5000 excess deaths attributed to cold homes last year as people struggle to cope with rising energy costs.

The tragedy of homeless deaths is amplified by the age at which homeless people are dying. The average age of death for homeless people is 45 for males and 43 for females, well over 30 years below the average life expectancy in the UK.

Download the full campaign pack here: The Bridge - 1611 Campaign Pack.

What will my donation be used for?

The money raised this winter will support those who need it most. Our Rough Sleeper Outreach team’s Client Welfare Budget purchases the essentials for rough sleepers across the county. This includes food, clothing, and items needed to move off the streets into longer term accommodation like ID cards and birth certificates.

We also want to prevent people from becoming homeless and being forced to suffer the devastating consequences of street homelessness. Money raised will also be used to ensure vulnerable families and people are not cast out onto the streets.

• £16.11 could provide a whole family with food parcels for over 3 days.

• £161.10 could provide a family with a ‘Starter Pack’ containing the essential items to move into a new accommodation, and build a new home.

• £1611 could provide over 100 rough sleepers with food, clothing, and essential items for a year!

There are 2957 homeless people in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland:

• £29.57 could heat a home for 2 weeks, helping to reduce the number of deaths related to cold homes this year.

• £295.70 could provide 12 housing advice sessions to support homeless and vulnerably housed people into long-term, secure accommodation.

• £2957 could cover the cost of training a Home Energy Advisor to cover an entire Leicestershire borough, providing advice and practical support to keep homes warm and energy costs down, ultimately keeping vulnerable people securely housed!

Make a difference!

No one deserves to face homelessness alone, and no one deserves to die cold and alone on the streets. Help us make a real difference in our community this winter, help us save lives.

To read more about what we do at The Bridge, please visit our website, and make sure to keep up with the campaign on our Facebook and Instagram pages!