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Homeless project helps 50,000 in crash victim's memory

Ana da Silva,Bristoland
Joe Sims,BBC Radio Bristol
News imageHandout A woman is smiling as she kneels down to take a photo with two bulldogs. She wears a t-shirt with the Billy Chip logo and blue jeans. Her hair is short and blonde. She seems happy. They are outside and in the background there is a water bowl, most likely for the two dogs who are most likely owned by a homeless person.Handout
Meg Abernethy-Hope set up Billy Chip in memory of her brother who died in 2018

More than 50,000 cash-alternative tokens to help homeless people have been redeemed across the UK since a charity was set-up in a crash victim's memory.

Before Billy Abernethy-Hope, from Bristol, died while backpacking in 2018, he came up with the idea of creating tokens that can be bought and given to homeless people to exchange in cafes and shops for hot drinks and food.

A year after his death, his sister Meg launched charity Billy Chip, which has now funded more than 50,000 tokens that are bought for £2 each.

Meg said the tokens "give people their dignity back", adding: "People can pop into a coffee shop and choose what to get for themselves, like everybody else."

News imageBilly Chip A smiling young man taking a selfie with his back to a lovely scenery of trees and white sand lagoon beaches.Billy Chip
Billy, from Bristol, died in a motorbike accident abroad before realising his dream

Billy had told his family that he wanted to address the common perception that homeless people will use money to buy harmful things like alcohol or drugs.

The tokens ensure donations can only be exchanged for items of food, drink, clothing and pet food from participating shops and cafes.

After launching in Bristol seven years ago, the project has expanded across the UK.

News imageBilly Chip Close up of two hands, one is holding a take away coffee cup, the other holds a Billy Chip - a round blue and black token in the shape of a large coin, which holds a picture of a young man in a cap, surrounded by the words 'Billy Chip' and little white hearts. The hands belong to a man who is most likely homeless.Billy Chip
Billy Chips can be purchased at participating shops and exchanged for food and drink

The organisation also helps build container homes to get people off the streets through fundraising campaigns, which included a charity concert at the Bristol Beacon last year.

Their latest venture, the Bank of Billy Chip, will now see businesses pledge monthly £100 donations to their foundation.

"All of the money is turned into Billy chips which are passed to outreach teams to be handed out directly to people in need," said Abernethy-Hope.

Among their partners is another charity supporting homeless people across the West of England.

Alongside, previously Julian House, has helped thousands of people find accommodation and support, including refugees and survivors of domestic abuse.

Gemma Turner, head of retail at Alongside, said they have been selling Billy chips for two years at their charity shops in Somerset and Wiltshire.

"For us, it's a win-win," she said.

Customers can buy the chips to either hand them to someone on the street or gift them back to the charity who will hand them directly to the people they support.

"It's a way for people to donate to our clients and for us it's great to be able to give a hand to other charitable projects," Turner said.

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