Im running to help support BOSH - Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless

Changes Bristol is a charity that helps people in mental health distress. One of our specialist services for vulnerable people in Bristol who need one-to-one support is our telephone befrinding service. A donation of £10 will cover the cost for a person to have a weekly call from a trained volunteer befriender for a month. 

Telephone befriending offers support to people who are vulnerable, isolated or need one-to-one support. We aim to match our volunteers and members with people who have similar lived experience or they may have something in common with. Calls last for one hour per week and are available to anyone over 18, without need of diagnosis or GP referral. We aim to support members within a 6 month period to allow them to feel ready to join group services. 

During the warmer days, the people we support love to be outside with a variety of activities. We would love to get this portable Badminton set so they can set it up and play with staff and others as a fun activity. 

Dame Emily Park Project (DEPP) is a local group of people who care about their park. We run the community garden and Forest School which are free to join.

Sudan has a long-standing tradition of hosting refugees. For decades, it has kept its doors open to people fleeing war, hunger and hardship. Importantly, Sudan is one of the major hosting countries for refugees fleeing the deadly conflict in South Sudan. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the education gaps in the country, while the virus keeps spreading. Children are returning to school in unsafe conditions and without protection.

Windle International empowers people to make lasting change in their own lives, in their communities and in wider society. We do this by creating access to quality education and training across East Africa and the Horn of Africa for refugees, communities affected by conflict, and those who have been marginalised in society. We believe that every child should have the capacity to access quality education safely, and reach their full potential.

We have developed Pratham Open School which has over 1000 apps and stories and over 7000 learning videos in 13 Indian languages that support children's learning. Whilst the apps are available to anyone with a smartphone we also provide preloaded tablets in targeted communities to support learning.

Your donation will pay for 10 BillyChips, which can be redeemed for food and drink at any participating outlet.

BillyChip®️ Foundation registered charity 1188779 was set up in 2018 to continue the legacy of Billy Abernethy-Hope a twenty-year-old ambulance driver from Bristol who was the inspiration and idea behind the BillyChip®️. After helping support the homeless at Christmas, Billy felt disheartened at how little support the general public gave to local homeless people. Many people donate to charity on a regular basis but Billy was surprised what a small percentage of donations were given directly to people living rough on our streets. Turns out most people are apprehensive to give money directly to homeless people because it's not possible to know how a donation is spent.

Unfortunately, the common perception is the money will be used for alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. Even if a donation of food or drink is given to safeguard your donation, it is very awkward as people have to make assumptions of what the person would like and when. The alternative is to engage with that person, ask the question and purchase what’s required which many feel uncomfortable doing. Billy recognized that the likelihood of someone having the time, inclination, courage, and kindness to engage with a homeless person to buy them food or drink was too big a challenge. That was the eureka moment when he first thought up the concept of the BillyChip®️. Sadly Billy never got to launch the BillyChip as planned due to his untimely death whilst backpacking in Thailand.

Tias is 9 and has a spinal cord injury. He struggles to walk and misses out on playing with his friends and dreams of riding a bike. Please join us at the Wish / Active Soul Family Festival of Running at Pomphrey Hill, Bristol BS16 9NF on 9th April to raise funds for this fantasrtic trike for this local little one.