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Two Bristol friends launch site to support local charities
“Every year my family put together backpacks and food parcels for the homeless and hand deliver them to people on the streets,” says Liam Summers, co-founder of a new company supporting local charities.
“During lockdown we discussed how we could help during these difficult times and how more than ever people and charities were struggling.”
After discussing this with friend Daniel Pidcock, the two decided to launch Wishy.
The pair, based in Emersons Green, wanted to start a not-for-profit business that had a personal touch and allowed charities to receive 100 per cent of donations received. Daniel and Liam hope to broaden Wishy’s reach over the next year to support charities across the UK.
Charities can list “wishes” for one-off needs or products or services they need regularly on the site, which the public can grant by donating on Wishy.
A core idea of the new site is that wishes are small enough that one donor can fulfil an entire wish rather than adding to a larger pot. Bristol charities already taking part include the Billy Chip, Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless and The YOU Foundation.
The Billy Chip is one of the charities signed up. Photo: Meg Abernethy-Hope
“I wanted to create a new way of giving that allowed people to decide how their money was used and see the direct impact of their generosity,” says Liam, who has worked in web development for more than 20 years.
“Wishy has social values at its core. Both Daniel and I are enormously proud of what we have built and believe it will connect people to the causes they care about. It has been an inspiring time so far and we have only just started.
“We are committed to helping great causes and reaching more people in a different and more personal way.”
Main photo: Admire PR
Read more: Billy’s legacy of kindness helps people who are homeless in Bristol
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