Bolt and Single Homeless Project raise £100,000 through winter ride initiative
- Perry Richardson
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Bolt has raised £100,000 for the Single Homeless Project after running a week-long winter fundraising campaign across its London ride-hailing network, targeting support for people facing homelessness during the coldest part of the year.
The Ride for Warmth initiative ran between 8 and 14 December as a dedicated ride option within the Bolt app. For each qualifying journey completed in London, Bolt donated £1 directly to the charity, allowing passengers to contribute without paying more for their trip.
Single Homeless Project is one of London’s largest homelessness charities, supporting more than 10,000 people each year through accommodation, prevention services and recovery programmes. Winter and the festive period place added strain on frontline services, with higher demand for emergency shelter, food and cold-weather essentials.
Bolt said the funds raised will be used to provide immediate winter relief, including meals, warm clothing and seasonal support packages. The charity estimates the total could translate into thousands of individual interventions during December and into the new year, when cold weather risks remain high for those sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation.
Ride-hailing campaign channels passenger trips into direct funding for homelessness support during peak winter period
Although the Ride for Warmth category has now closed, Single Homeless Project continues to raise funds through its Christmas Shop, which converts monetary donations into specific support items such as meals and winter clothing. Bolt has encouraged riders and the wider public to continue contributing through the scheme during the winter period.
Chris Mcmillan, Operations Manager at Bolt, said: “Digital platforms have a unique opportunity to create real-world impact by connecting everyday actions with community support. Through Ride for Warmth, we were able to turn thousands of routine journeys into meaningful contributions for Londoners facing homelessness. This shows how technology can help mobilise collective generosity when it’s needed most.”
Mel Malcolm, Head of Rough Sleeping at Single Homeless Project, said: “Winter is the most dangerous time of year for people sleeping rough. When one person in London is pushed into homelessness every 7.5 minutes, support like Ride for Warmth really matters. The funds raised will help our teams reach people in the cold, keep them safe, and support them to move away from the streets. We’re hugely grateful to Bolt and to everyone who chose to ride.”
