First West of England has joined a campaign to tackle homelessness in Bristol with an initiative which has already raised £100,000.

The bus operator is the latest business in the city to join TAP for Bristol – a scheme designed to make giving to charity easier by allowing users to make a donation through contactless by simply swiping their debit/credit card or smart phone at high profile contact points across the city.

First's TAP point has been installed at the city's main bus station on Marlborough Street.

Speaking on World Homeless Day (10th October), Bristol Bus and Coach Station's Operations Manager, Carole Stevens, said: "We're so proud of our links with our local communities, and this project is directly helping one of those communities which can sometimes be overlooked – rough sleepers in our city.

"By joining TAP for Bristol, we're becoming part of a family of organisations and businesses in the city which is helping Bristol become the city that solves homelessness.

"The TAP panel at Bristol's Bus and Coach Station will now give the 30,000 people who pass through the station every day a quick and easy way to donate £3 to tackling homelessness."

First West of England now joins a host of other high-profile names in the city which are already collecting for rough sleepers through the TAP initiative, including the Bristol Hippodrome and Temple Meads Station, as well as shops, cafes, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, many of which have donation panels on their windows.

Launched in September 2019, the TAP initiative aims to make Bristol the city that solves homelessness, and has since raised about £25,000 per year on average through its contactless donation points, JustGiving Page and donations from businesses.

Delivered by Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with Caring in Bristol and supported by Redcliffe & Temple BID, TAP for Bristol has helped those at risk of homelessness by providing emergency grants via local charities, in addition to enabling Caring in Bristol to continue its vital homelessness prevention projects. 

Paula Ratcliffe, TAP Bristol's Business Liaison Manager, said: "We are delighted to have a new donation point at the bus station, and welcome First Bus to the family of host businesses across the city centre. This comes at a pivotal time in the project, as 50% of all future donations will now go towards funding for Caring in Bristol's Z House shelter, helping to prevent young people from living a life on the streets."