Festival of Kindness launches in Birmingham

For 2025, we’re expanding the Festival of Kindness campaign to Birmingham, with one of our 10m-high twinkly Trees of Kindness installed at New Street Station, outside All Bar One in the city centre.

We’re inviting kind-hearted Birmingham locals to come along to the tree, a symbol of hope and goodwill, to donate toys, gifts, and essential items, such as warm gloves, boots, toiletries, and money towards a hot Christmas meal, for people who need it most at this time of year. You can find out more about what to bring in a wish list of items identified by people experiencing homelessness as having the most impact for them.

Raising awareness and spreading kindness

In Birmingham, there are currently more than 5,000 households living in temporary accommodation – the second highest in the UK outside of London – so this year, we hope to spread kindness even further with our Tree of Kindness in the heart of the city.

We’re looking forward to getting to know Birmingham itself much better, but we’re no stranger to the Midlands. We’ve partnered with local organisations in Birmingham and the wider area for many years now, including the Big Issue, Changing Lives, Hope Projects and The Salvation Army, to help provide support and bring festive joy to people who are vulnerable or experiencing homelessness over the winter. We’re asking Brummies and supporters across the Midlands to join in the mission to provide 300,000 winter meals, gifts and essential items for children and adults affected by homelessness, both locally and across the country.

As with our Scottish and London sites, anyone wishing to take part can donate a gift in person at the Tree of Kindness, or virtually via our website. Just £28 could provide someone experiencing homelessness with a hot Christmas meal, a gift, a bundle of essential items, and a safe place to sleep for the night. Supporters can also donate specific items, such as a pack of warm gloves for £10, or toys and clothing for children for £100.

Working together with local partners

Founder of Social Bite, Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “We’re really excited to launch in Birmingham for the first time – the city has a big heart and this campaign is about showing that in action. We’ve worked in the city with local charities for several years but are excited to launch our Festival of Kindness this year to directly support the growing numbers who find themselves in a position of homelessness.

“We hear from the people who receive the public’s kind gifts and donations about how much of a difference it makes to them. The Festival of Kindness has become something the people we support not only look forward to but rely on for the things so many of us take for granted. I ask anyone who feels they can afford to, to please give what you can and help make someone’s Christmas Day that bit brighter.”

Mitchells & Butlers is one of the UK’s largest operators of pubs, bars, and restaurants, and has proudly partnered with Social Bite for six years. Their central support office is based in Birmingham and the team there is helping bring Social Bite’s first campaign to the city, working together to raise awareness and support for people experiencing homelessness.

Amy De Marsac, Director of Investor Relations & Sustainability at Mitchells & Butlers, said: “Mitchells & Butlers proudly partners with Social Bite, supporting their mission to help people break the cycle of homelessness. This winter, we’re excited to help launch Social Bite’s Tree of Kindness campaign in Birmingham – our home city. Homelessness affects far too many people here and across the UK, and we believe everyone deserves a safe place to live. Standing alongside Social Bite in their work reflects our values and our commitment to making a real difference in our communities.”

A huge thank you to Mitchells & Butlers and Network Rail for their ongoing support and helping to make the campaign happen in Birmingham.  Looking to the future, we can’t wait to build more connections in the city with our peers and partners, in a collaborative effort to break the cycle of homelessness across the UK. For now, we’ll see you at the Tree of Kindness at New St Station!