Sir Chris Hoy asks Edinburgh people to help raise money for homeless in Just Eat and Social Bite appeal

Champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy has joined a campaign to urge people in Edinburgh to help raise money for homeless and vulnerable people in an appeal launched by Just Eat and Social Bite.

Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy has joined a campaign alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Rob Brydon to support the Social Bite appeal

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.

Other well-known faces including Rob Brydon and Dame Helen Mirren have posted videos backing the new Christmas Meal Appeal.

The funds raised will be distributed by Social Bite who support homeless people through meal donations. Social Bite is the largest distributor of free fresh food to the homeless in the UK, giving out more than 140,000 items of food and hot drinks per year.

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

Customers can take part by clicking the donation button whilst they order their takeaway. They’ll have the choice of making a £3, £5 or £10 donation and Just Eat will match it, pound for pound.

Josh Littlejohn from 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 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.”

Andrew Kenny UK MD for Just Eat added: “We're proud to partner with Social Bite and FoodCycle, matching customers' donations pound for pound to provide tens of thousands of Christmas meals for the UK’s homeless and vulnerable people.”

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.

Dame Louise Casey said: “The economic conditions that have prevailed across the UK since March means there has rarely been the same need as there is now to support our homeless people and I really welcome initiatives like Just Eat’s Christmas meal appeal to raise funds and awareness.”

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