NatWest Dances In With a New Way to Help the Homeless This Holiday Season
Picture this: a cozy December night, your phone buzzing with a simple tap, and you’re giving someone who’s had a rough year a warm, festive meal. That’s exactly what NatWest’s fresh “MyRewards” feature is doing for Social Bite.
How the Magic Happens
With the MyRewards app, customers can lazy‑drag their spare points (any amount above £5) straight into a Christmas dinner for a homeless friend. It’s as easy as ordering a latte – just pick Social Bite, hit Donate, and boom: a hearty, holiday‑spiced meal is on its way.
Double the Good News!
- NatWest pledges to match every donation to any of its 16 MyRewards charities, including Social Bite, up to £50 per gift.
- All the way until 31 December, the bank’s total matching pool tops out at £150 000.
The “Festival of Kindness”—A Big Name, Big Impact
This isn’t just a one‑off promotion. Social Bite’s annual Festival of Kindness is a full‑blown campaign that aims to hand out 300,000 meals, gifts, and essentials to the homeless and vulnerable this Christmas. Since the festival began in 2020, it’s already delivered over a million of those goodies!
Where We’ve Been Partnering Already
- NatWest opened a welcoming coffee hub in the Royal Bank HQ in Edinburgh.
- They launched a public coffee shop at their 440 Strand location in London.
Meet the People Behind the Mission
Catherine van Weenan, the Commercial Mid‑Market champion, said: “We’re thrilled to give folks a simple way to help during the festive season. Everyone’s eager to help but often doesn’t know how—so we’re stepping in to make it painless.”
Josh Littlejohn MBE, Social Bite founder, added: “With NatWest on board for years, we’re breaking the cycle of homelessness more effectively. Christmas is a time for togetherness, but for many, it’s a reminder of homelessness; we’re here to change that.”
Want to Join the Cheer?
Open the MyRewards app and explore the charities waiting for your help, or check out Social Bite’s own Festival of Kindness page. Together, we can make the holiday season brighter for those who need it most.
