{"id":516002,"date":"2025-10-21T03:31:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T03:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/516002\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T03:31:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T03:31:18","slug":"how-dining-at-selected-ni-hospitality-venues-this-christmas-could-help-the-homeless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/516002\/","title":{"rendered":"How dining at selected NI hospitality venues this Christmas could help the homeless"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over 61,500 people are now legally classified as homeless in Northern Ireland<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_Dine-Donate-5jpeg.jpg\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Homelessness charity, Simon Community\u2019s new Dine &amp; Donate campaign is inviting pubs, restaurants, and caf\u00e9s to add a \u00a31 donation to selected menu items<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">A new hospitality campaign aiming to support people without a home this <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/all-about\/christmas\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Christmas<\/a> has been launched with the hope of making a &#8220;life-changing difference&#8221; in NI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/belfastlive.co.ulk\/all-about\/homelessness\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Homelessness charity, <\/a>Simon Community\u2019s new Dine &amp; Donate campaign is inviting pubs, restaurants, and caf\u00e9s to add a \u00a31 donation to selected menu items, with all funds raised going to Simon Community\u2019s work with people experiencing homelessness. Over 61,500 people are now legally classified as homeless in<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/all-about\/northern-ireland\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\"> Northern Ireland <\/a>\u2013 one in every 31 people.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/news\/northern-ireland\/mallusk-hub-fighting-food-poverty-32655186\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32655186\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mallusk hub fighting food poverty across Northern Ireland as winter demand looms<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/news\/northern-ireland\/our-team-extern-here-help-32653154\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32653154\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;Our team at Extern is here to help anyone struggling with their mental health&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Simon Community hopes to sign up 100 hospitality venues across Northern Ireland, to raise a target of \u00a325,000 throughout December, funding emergency accommodation, food vouchers, and vital support services during one of the toughest times of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Commenting on the launch, Ann McGregor, board member of Simon Community, said: \u201cBehind every statistic is a real person \u2013 someone\u2019s neighbour, colleague or family member \u2013 who won\u2019t have a safe place to call home this Christmas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">&#8220;By supporting our Dine &amp; Donate campaign, hospitality businesses will help us provide shelter, warmth and food to those who need it most.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_Dine-Donate-3jpeg.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Whitney Rowan, Galgorm Collection; Jarron O\u2019Neill Watson, 2 Taps Tapas Bar; Jamie Mendez, Little Wing; Ann McGregor, board member, Simon Community; Andy Carson, Bullitt; Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster; and Bill Wolsey, Beannchor; launch Simon Community\u2019s Dine &amp; Donate campaign<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">&#8220;We\u2019re asking 100 venues across Northern Ireland to join us in showing the power of our world-famous hospitality &#8211; and what we can achieve when we come together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">How Dine &amp; Donate will work:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\" publication=\"belfastlive\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Venues choose one or more menu items or drinks to include in the campaign.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">For every item purchased, \u00a31 is donated to Simon Community.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Just \u00a3150 raised by a single venue could provide safe accommodation and an emergency food voucher for a family living in temporary housing for a week.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster who is backing the campaign, added: \u201cHospitality is at the heart of our communities, especially during the busy festive season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">&#8220;This campaign gives bars, restaurants, and cafes a simple way to be part of something that will make a real difference to the lives of local people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">&#8220;We\u2019re proud to support Simon Community and we encourage venues across the country to sign up to the Dine &amp; Donate campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Some of the best-known names in hospitality are already on board, including the Beannchor Group (Little Wing Pizzeria, The National, Bullitt Hotel, The Dirty Onion), the Galgorm Collection (Caf\u00e9 Parisien and Fratelli), and 2Taps tapas bar in Belfast\u2019s <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/all-about\/cathedral-quarter\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Cathedral Quarter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Venues interested in joining the campaign can sign-up by contacting Rebekah Barr by email at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/whats-on\/food-drink-news\/mailto:rebekahbarr@simoncommunity.org\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"rebekahbarr@simoncommunity.orgLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">rebekahbarr@simoncommunity.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\">Details of participating venues will be released in November, ahead of the campaign going live on 1 December<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_IMG_9480.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>Join Belfast Live Social on TikTok<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@belfastlivesocial\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Belfast Live Social on TikTok<\/a> will be jam-packed with food reviews, concert announcements, vox-pops of all the important questions and more &#8211; 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We are excited to share this side of Belfast life with our new followers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"belfastlive\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage<\/strong> <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"hereLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.belfastlive.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=25c3daf7-4f24-4075-a29b-6129b41b6f39&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">sign up to our What&#8217;s On newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Over 61,500 people are now legally classified as homeless in Northern IrelandHomelessness charity, Simon Community\u2019s new Dine &amp;&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":516003,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[126023,168405,786,6332,1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-516002","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-belfast-food-and-drink-scene","9":"tag-cathedral-quarter","10":"tag-food-and-drink","11":"tag-homelessness","12":"tag-northern-ireland","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115410049108768685","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}