World Homeless Day takes place on 10th October annually, serving as a platform to advocate for improved policies and funding that can prevent and end homelessness. It also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and support in local communities.

Across the month of October, Thomas Miller facilitated a number of campaigns to support this cause, working by majority with our global corporate charity partner, St Mungo’s.

For St Mungo’s, their ambition is to make it the last night on the streets for as many people experiencing homelessness as they can, and they work every day and night to help people away from the streets and into a safe and warm place they can call home. Last year, they helped more than 28,000 people across 160 services.

Fundraising

On 4th October, seven employees took part in the St Mungo’s abseil challenge, descending free-fall from a 160ft crane, raising over £4,500 including matched funding.

On 14th October, eight employees took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon for St Mungo’s, raising nearly £6,000 including matched funding.

Furthermore, any further funds donated to the Thomas Miller-St Mungo’s fundraising pages on JustGiving from 3rd – 17th October were matched by the Thomas Miller Charity Committee, overall boosting donations by 35%.

Volunteering

Employees took part in two volunteering days to support St Mungo’s:

• Three employees visited a dedicated Women’s Hub who meet once a month, creating a safe space for female clients from different services to spend time with each other and staff, and discuss important topics such as women’s health. The volunteers from Thomas Miller held a pamper session which included afternoon tea.
• Four employees volunteered at one of St Mungo’s mental health residential services, spending time with the clients by hosting a picnic and playing board games, with great client engagement.

Clothing Collections

A number of our offices globally held clothing and other donation drives for local charities that focus on working towards ending homelessness, including New Jersey for York Street Project, Piraeus for Reycom and local churches, and Hong Kong for Impact HK.

Our London Head Office hosted a clothing bank for female and male clothing to be donated to two of St Mungo’s services, one being the dedicated Women’s Hub mentioned above where they will be able to select the clothes they like and require, and also to a specific Outreach Team.