11 December 2018
On Saturday 1st December, Brighton and Hove Green Party began collecting donations of clothes, food and toiletries for a range of local charitable organisations which support the city’s most vulnerable residents. The Greens have been overwhelmed by the support the campaign has received so far.
The ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ campaign is returning for a second year, after a hugely successful first run last Christmas. Green Party of England and Wales co-leader Jonathan Bartley visited Brighton to launch this year’s campaign alongside MP Caroline Lucas and the local Greens. The donations we received from residents this weekend were amazing and we hope the support continues throughout December!
The charities which the Reverse Advent Calendar will support this year are: Brighton Women’s Centre, Voices in Exile, Whitehawk Food Bank, Off The Fence, and Bevendean Food bank.
Britain’s largest food bank charity, The Trussell Trust, has said it is expecting its busiest month ever in the run up to Christmas, with more and more families finding themselves unable to afford their basic needs.
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Last Christmas we asked local residents across Brighton and Hove for donations of food, clothes and toiletries to support those most in need at Christmas, and the response was overwhelming. Sadly, we are a year on and there are still so many in need of support. So this year we are running the Reverse Advent Calendar campaign once again, working with more fantastic charities in the city.
“We must continue to fight for a future where no one has to use a food bank, but in the meantime, there are small things we can do that make a big difference. At this time of year it is vital that we come together to support those most vulnerable in our communities. If you can spare anything at all for those in need this Christmas – please be part of our campaign.” -second-annual-‘reverse-advent-calendar’-campaign-in-support-of-local-charities
The importance of this year’s Reverse Advent Calendar campaign is underscored by the latest report from the national homelessness charity, Shelter.
The report highlighted the increasing severity of homelessness in Brighton and Hove. The total homeless population of 4,317 marks an increase of 100 on last year, and 178 of these are rough sleepers. This positions the local authority at nineteenth in terms of high rates of homelessness in England, and first in the South East region.
As well as the homeless, the charities receiving donations from this year’s Reverse Advent Calendar campaign will support refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable women.
The local Green Party office on Surrey Street, Brighton, will be accepting donations until the 20th December. If you would like to donate any items, the wish list can be found here: https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/events/reverse-advent-calendar-2018.html
Campaign video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yGVydse9m4
For more information please contact: [email protected]