Only A Pavement Away, the industry charity aiding prison leavers, veterans and those facing homelessness find employment in the hospitality sector, has launched its ‘Fill a Flask’ campaign for summer 2023.
The initiative is being sponsored by Caterer.com, and will see hospitality operators volunteering and donating 1000 reusable thermal flasks with Only a Pavement Away branding to local homeless charities, who can then pass them onto those who need them most.
Over the last four years, the initiative has given out 3000 flasks across UK cities to people sleeping rough.
This year, the campaign is set to run across London, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh, and will see local operators providing support to those in need in various ways.
This may include volunteering in charity Food or Job Clubs, helping to sort through donations, and supporting staff at a drop in centres or soup kitchens. It is hoped that by having teams volunteering it will help to increase awareness of the services that Only A Pavement Away can provide, as well as their own hospitality businesses, so more people can find the right employment and get their life back on track.
Teams already signed up include Speciality Brands, Greene King, Zonal, The Ivy, Sisban, Mandarin Oriental, The Athenaeum, Strand Palace Hotel, Asahi and Cave Hotels.
“With the cost-of-living crisis, benefit freezes and the end of Covid-19 eviction bans, more people than ever are being forced to live in temporary accommodation or sleep on the street; there has never been a more important time to act,” said the charity.
“This July and August, operators who volunteer will get a real insight into the challenges that people are facing, and why Only A Pavement Away is trying to help. Operators can then go a step further and select Only A Pavement Away as their charity of choice and donate a small percentage from each dish or drink to the charity. Or simply promote the campaign by sharing it on socials!
Since the charity’s founding five years ago, Only A Pavement Away has placed over 370 members into roles in the hospitality sector and aims to dramatically ramp that up over the next five years, with the target of placing 5000 people into meaningful employment over this timeframe.
To take part in Fill a Flask or enquire about becoming an Only A Pavement Away Charity Partner, email head of marketing & fundraising Karen Wallin at karenwallin@onlyapavementaway.co.uk
