Support Shelter with Savoo

Help make a huge difference for families and individuals facing unsafe housing situations this Christmas at Savoo.

Don’t forget that you can support Shelter for free during the 12th - 18th of December by using any discount code or deal on-site, and we’ll donate to Shelter on your behalf at no extra cost to you!

The support doesn’t have to stop there! You can choose to support Shelter all year round when you register with Savoo.

What will Shelter be doing in the lead-up to Christmas?

Shelter believes that everyone has the right to a safe home, and the need for comfort is even more vital over Christmas. While others are spending quality time with loved ones, the prospect of spending Christmas on the street in winter is even more daunting, upsetting and lonely. In the lead up to Christmas this year, Shelter will continue to fight for everyone’s right to have somewhere safe, secure, and affordable.

The charity provides a range of support methods, including one-to-one personalised advice, online access to professional advisors, free legal services and the free emergency helpline open 365 days a year for anyone struggling with a housing issue. Shelter is always contactable over the festive season for the people that need them, even on Christmas day.

This winter, Shelter will increase fundraising efforts by selling a range of Christmas cards and gifts that will make a huge difference to people experiencing homelessness. When you buy Christmas cards or gifts online, all profits will go towards helping families and individuals get a safe and secure place to call home. You can also take part in Walk for Home this winter to raise money for Shelter. You can walk anytime from the 6 - 12th December and it’s free to sign-up, so it’s super easy to support Shelter this Christmas!

What’s the impact of the Christmas season on homelessness and how does that change the work you do?

The desire for a place to call home becomes even more prevalent the closer Christmas gets, and Shelter does everything possible to make sure families have a home for Christmas day. Whether families are expecting a visit from Father Christmas, want a tree to decorate, or to sit around a table for a family Christmas dinner complete with all the trimmings, for many, Christmas day begins and ends at home.

Over the festive period, many people face losing their home or finding themselves in a desperate housing situation. As well as making sure that people receive all the information necessary to help them decide on their next steps, Shelter helps people find short-term accommodation as well as a more permanent solution. The key aim of Shelter over Christmas is to try and get people in need somewhere safe to live - so they have some kind of home to spend with loved ones on the big day.

What do donations and volunteer hours mean to Shelter at Christmas?

Making sure people have a place to call home at Christmas is a priority for Shelter. While having a place to call home all year round is a human right, Shelter acknowledges the sentiment attached to the festive season that incites an increased desire for family time and security.

Shelter wouldn’t be able to achieve their fantastic work fighting the housing emergency without the support of donations and volunteers to propel the impact of their reach. To get an idea of just how much Shelter has achieved and how much more the charity can help those who need it with your help, here are some facts and figures:

• A total of £36,928,000 was raised last year
• For every £1 donated, 79p goes directly to helping people (advice, support, campaigning)
• 21p goes to fundraising
• 55% of donations are from donations and legacies
• 13% from Shelter shops
• 30% from funded advice and support
• 2% from training and publications

Here’s how that money helped

Making sure people have a place to call home at Christmas is a priority for Shelter. While having a place to call home all year round is a human right, Shelter acknowledges the sentiment attached to the festive season that incites an increased desire for family time and security.

Shelter wouldn’t be able to achieve their fantastic work fighting the housing emergency without the support of donations and volunteers to propel the impact of their reach. To get an idea of just how much Shelter has achieved and how much more the charity can help those who need it with your help, here are some facts and figures:

• Letting Agent Fees were banned for good in 2016, and a further loophole in the Tenant Fees Bill was closed in 2019
• 5.5 million people received advice in the last year
• 2020/21 - 22,644 households received advice via the helpline
• 6.5 million visits were made to online help and advice services
• 18,590 were seen face-to-face in a hub
• 19,170 received help over web chat
• The covid eviction ban was fought for in part by Shelter

What are your goals and resolutions for New Year 2023?

In 2023, Shelter aims to elevate the scale of their work by targeting three crucial aspects of the housing crisis. To ignite real change, Shelter will be standing for private renters and helping people understand their housing rights.

Shelter will also work with communities and urge the government to build large-scale and long-term social housing, as 1.2 million people are currently waiting for affordable homes. A big part of what Shelter does as a charity is offering housing advice to those who need it. In the new year, Shelter hopes to upscale their helpline and advice services, so they can support everyone who tries to get into contact with them.

How can you help?

• Join campaigns, sign petitions
• You can volunteer in a Shelter shop: sorting stock, creating window displays, serving customers, and driving footfall
• Volunteer to work in locally provided services
• You can be 14+, and can volunteer regardless of migrant status
• You could be part of the service team: assisting with possession proceedings, evictions, and negative homeless decisions
• You could also host a fundraising event, or get involved with research, finance or HR