Cream tea anyone? Exeter homelessness charity teams up with TV personality to launch summer campaign
Hospitality venues, businesses and residents in and around Exeter are being invited to get involved in a campaign to help a homelessness charity support the growing numbers of rough sleepers.
In a drive to build momentum leading up to St Petrock’s Big Cream Tea, which takes place over the weekend of 8 and 9 July, the campaign launches this week, online and across traditional media.
The charity has recorded a light-hearted 30 second film withNaomi Cleaver, designer, author and television presenter, enthusiastically enjoying one of the nation’s best loved summer treats, at Exeter’s The Glorious Art House café.
Naomi, who lives near Exeter, is supporting the campaign having experienced homelessness first hand in her late teens, describing it as “frightening and dehumanising.”
The campaign invites hospitality venues to offer cream teas and provide customers with an opportunity to support St Petrock’s, while local people are invited to host cream tea events for friends and family - and to make a donation to the charity’s work with homeless people in Exeter.
Numbers of rough sleepers are at their highest level
Figures show that last year saw the highest number of rough sleepers ever recorded on the streets of Exeter. Well over 200 people experienced rough sleeping over the 12 months.
The charity is under more pressure from people in need of its services, than ever before.
Peter Stephenson, director, said: “Sadly, homelessness in Exeter is at an all-time high and our staff are working hard to support people who rely on us as a lifeline.”
It’s easy to get involved
“We’ve done our best to make it as easy as possible to get involved. Anyone interested in running their own Big Cream Tea in aid of St Petrock’s, can do so by visiting www.BigCreamTea.org.uk for downloadable posters, which advertise the event and include a QR code, so that people can easily donate.”
“It is very straightforward for hospitality outlets. They just need to display our posters in windows and on tables, serve cream teas on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July (or during the week), then post photographs to social media with the hashtag #StPetrocksBigCreamTea.
“We’d like to say thank you for caring about homeless people in Exeter, so if businesses tell us they’re taking part, we will promote them across our social media platforms. There’s no requirement that venues donate, but if they are able to donate a proportion of their takings, so much the better,” added Mr Stephenson.
The team is grateful to venues who have already signed up, including: EE, John Lewis, Lloyds Lounge, Canonteign Falls,Woodbury Park, The Glorious Art House and Parklife Heavitree.
St Petrock’s relies on donations from members of the public for the vast majority of its funding. Regular donations are particularly appreciated, which allow the charity to plan services with more confidence.
St Petrock’s Big Cream Tea film was recorded completely free of charge, by Rebekah Horton of Charitable Waves.
