Norwich Street Aid

Norwich Street Aid was a project created by Norwich BID in response to the business community’s concerns about the number of people rough sleeping on the city’s streets.

Set up in partnership with Norfolk Community Foundation and Pathways (including St Martin’s Housing Trust and The Feed), Norwich Street Aid worked collaboratively to raise and distribute funds.

The project raised funds that could be applied for directly by keyworkers on behalf of those who needed it. These funds were used to help individuals acquire what they needed most, such as a mobile phone, clothing, household items, or support to reconnect with family members.

Donations were made via a physical tap-to-pay donation terminal located in Castle Quarter.

From Norwich Street Aid’s launch in October 2019 to its conclusion in September 2023, £17,000 was raised through the generosity of Norwich’s businesses and the general public. The funds provided household items for those moving into accommodation, such as pots and pans, mattresses, washing machines, radios, and carpets. The funding also helped purchase mobile phones, making it easier to stay in contact with rough sleepers, particularly for notifying them when a bed for the night became available.