Now in its third year jellybean’s 12 Days of Giving is our way of giving back during the festive season, where we donate a day’s average jellybean salary to 12 charities of our choice.

This year I was inspired by the incredible fundraising efforts of Dominic Green, Sales Director at Dennys Brands for Only a Pavement Away. A charity founded by representatives from the hospitality industry, Only a Pavement Away believes that everyone deserves the chance to find and forge a career. They support people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans who are struggling to get into work and overcome hurdles by finding jobs within the hospitality, pub and restaurant industry.

In what has been an incredibly difficult few years for so many of us, we are all too aware that life can throw up challenges that shatter your world and can lead you to facing homelessness. Be it through unemployment, illness or significant life events, homelessness can happen to anyone. Equally people can be forced into homelessness after leaving prison, care or the army, with no home to go to. Only a Pavement Away is there to support those people and provide help by connecting them with forward thinking hospitality employers who understand sometimes you just need a chance.

To raise awareness and funds, Dominic and a number of other volunteers slept out for one night on the 21st November.

This was what Dominic had to say about his experience:

“The CEO Sleepout was a truly humbling experience, for one night you get to experience a tiny bit of what it’s like to sleep rough. It was cold, uncomfortable, loud, and bright, but it was only one night. For tens of thousands of homeless it’s not one night it’s the norm! We kept reminding each other that we were safe and together, no one stole our stuff, no one beat us up, no one threw things at us and we didn’t have to beg for a bite to eat. When I got in my warm bed the next night, I truly appreciated just how privileged I am.”

Homelessness rose by 11% in just three months earlier this year^ and nearly 400 households become homeless every single day in England*. 282,000 single people, couples and families are currently judged as homeless or threatened with homelessness by local authorities here in the UK^. As we enter the Christmas period and temperatures plummet, I wanted to shine a light on the incredible work that Only a Pavement Away and fundraisers like Dominic are doing to help turn things around.

If you would like to support Dominic in his fundraising for Only a Pavement Away please donate to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dominic-green4 – every penny will help!

To learn more about Only a Pavement Away visit https://onlyapavementaway.co.uk/

^Shelter *Crisis