Just Eat and Social Bite launch Christmas Meal Appeal

The Big Issue Foundation is excited to be partnering with Just Eat and Social Bite as part of their Christmas meal appeal. From now until Christmas, customers of Just Eat will have the option to make a £3, £5 or £10 donation at the point of checkout when ordering a takeaway and Just Eat will match the donation pound for pound.

Just Eat has committed to raising funds for at least 100,000 Christmas meals for homeless and vulnerable people across the UK, and with the support from their customers, Social Bite are aiming to fund up to 200,000.

The appeal comes after reports detail the increasing issue of homelessness in the UK, and the increased pressure and reliance on charities as the nation deals with the economic and social fallout of the Covid pandemic. 2020 has been like no other, but one positive outcome from this exceptionally challenging year is the sense of community and camaraderie that has emerged. Over 50% of Londoners say that they want to do more to help those less fortunate this Christmas.

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite said:

“This year has been a lot more difficult than most, with many people finding themselves financially vulnerable and in the worst-case, homeless. We know that Christmas, in particular, can be a very challenging time which is why we’re delighted to be partnering with Just Eat for the Christmas Meal Appeal to help fill at least 100,000 plates this year all over the UK’.

Dame Helen Mirren has backed the campaign, urging Londoners to think about those people less fortunate this Christmas, along with other well-known faces including Rob Brydon and Sir Chris Hoy. The initiative has also been praised by former government advisor on homelessness, Dame Louise Casey, who remains one of the UK’s most active advocates around the issues of homelessness and food poverty.

The Big Issue Foundation are one of 15 charities across the UK who are benefiting from the initiative, including Whitechapel Mission, City Harvest London, The Passage, Depaul UK, Glass Door, Thames Reach, Food Cycle and The Connection.

Tracy Griffin, Big Issue Foundation interim CEO, said:

“This pandemic has hit Big Issue vendors hard – especially after the added strain of a second national lockdown which has once again disrupted their ability to earn a living selling the magazine. The money raised from this campaign means that we can provide food vouchers to vendors during a particularly tough winter, as well as bringing some much-needed festive cheer”.