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They say that charity starts at home, but it can also start during a night out at a restaurant or while staying overnight at a hotel . But what can the hospitality industry do to get people involved with good causes over the festive season? A time when those without the same opportunities in life often feel the most desperate. Well one initiative has made it really easy for restaurants to get involved and help those less fortunate this Christmas . StreetSmart gets participating restaurants to add an extra £1 to each bill, which acts as a voluntary contribution and is then distributed to local homeless charities . It is a simple idea, but pretty effective, as £1 is relatively little for most people on top of the rest of the bill, but when this small amount is added together it can make a huge difference. Christmas is a time of giving and when people have indulged in a meal out, it is the perfect time to give to charity and feel more virtuous. Since it began in 1998 StreetSmart has raised more than £5.5 million in this way and has now extended its initiative to hotels too. SleepSmart operates on the same principle, with an extra £1 added onto a hotel bill, which seems like an even more reasonable proposition when compared to the price of a hotel room. Stephen Fry is a big supporter of StreetSmart and said: "I have no hesitation in supporting and recommending the work of the charity StreetSmart, which is low in bureaucracy and high on delivering where help is needed. We may not be able to solve the question of homelessness but at least by doing something we, in some way, diminish its tyranny." Of course not all charitable efforts need to be co-ordinated by an outside organisation such as StreetSmart, but it acts as a good example of how a simple act can raise a large amount of money. Establishments may have their own charities which they wish to support for specific reasons and there is no reason not to ask customers to put their hands in their pockets at Christmas. This must be approached in an appropriate manner and it should be made clear that it is a voluntary contribution. A note on the bill is a good way of carrying this out as there is no direct pressure put on clients, but they are given the option of an easy way to contribute to charity. The easier the process is made then the more likely it is for diners to donate, especially if they themselves have full bellies. Giuseppe Fruttuoso is a director at Paradiso restaurant in Newcastle, which has been involved in the campaign for a number of years. He told the Journal: "I’m very proud to help StreetSmart. It’s a pleasure to get involved and our guests like to contribute.We explain the scheme to them and 99 per cent of diners are very pleased to be involved. At Christmas, especially, sometimes people put in extra pounds."
