Celebrities Martin Compston and Kate Garraway were among the high-profile names who came together to launch a new coffee shop in London with a mission to end homelessness. Social Bite, already known for their five successful coffee shops in Scotland, is now making its mark in England by employing individuals from the homeless community.
At the heart of Social Bite’s initiative is a pay-it-forward scheme. Customers have the opportunity to purchase an additional meal or hot drink in advance, which can be redeemed by someone experiencing homelessness at a later time. This simple act of kindness can make a powerful impact on the lives of those in need.
The launch event for Social Bite’s new coffee shop attracted an array of famous faces, including Line of Duty star Martin Compston, 37, and Good Morning Britain co-host Kate Garraway, 54. Renowned radio presenter Chris Evans, 55, also attended the event and expressed his support for the cause. Evans emphasized the alarming rates of homelessness in the capital and the added challenges created by the Covid pandemic and rising living costs.
Social Bite’s founder, Josh Littlejohn MBE, was applauded for his vision in transforming a small sandwich shop started in 2012 into a charitable initiative aimed at ending homelessness. The journey began when a young homeless man approached the shop seeking employment. Since then, Social Bite has received visits from notable figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle.
With the opening of their flagship shop in London, Social Bite aims to have one in four staff members come from a background of homelessness. This achievement marks an incredible milestone both for the charity and for the city. Speaking at the launch, Littlejohn emphasized the positive impact that the new coffee shop can have on London’s homeless crisis.
“We truly believe that our social impact program is life-changing and provides something unique,” Littlejohn said. He went on to express his excitement about bringing this positive change to the streets of London and helping thousands of lives.
