Homeless charity's billboard plea for support

James Bovill,Midlands Todayand
Tanya Gupta,BBC News, West Midlands
News imageBBC An advertising campaign shows a billboard with the slogan "Floorida". The poster has an image of someone sleeping on the ground, on a pavement, and reads "minimalist 0* stay in heart of the city". It has a made-up company name called Street Escapes.BBC
The charity said it still needed support during the summer holiday season

A homelessness charity that sees a drop in donations during the summer has said the people it helps still need support at this time of year.

Sifa Fireside said donations during the summer were vital for running its homeless intervention service, which provides food, clothing, showers, health clinics and housing advice.

The charity's campaign, called Homelessness Doesn't Take a Holiday, is on billboards across Birmingham, after the company Ocean Outdoor donated media space.

Robb Sheppard, from Sifa Fireside, said he hoped the campaign would "stop people in their tracks, encourage them to take a second look, and make a donation".

He said the support would make "a big difference to the day-to-day lives of our city's most vulnerable people".

Creative agency One Black Bear created the adverts by mimicking travel agent posters.

On first sight, they promise bargain getaways, but a closer look reveals a patch of pavement and a view of the street from the ground.

News imageAn advertising campaign shows a billboard with the slogan "Costa Doorada". The yellow poster has an image of someone sleeping in a doorway, and reads "seven nights a week, self-catering, street view". It has a made-up company name called On the Street.
The campaign mimics travel agent adverts

The agency said it showed "the reality of people experiencing homelessness".

Jon Harrison, creative director at One Black Bear, urged people to give support.

He said the campaign helped to draw attention to conditions experienced by those facing homelessness throughout Birmingham and beyond, "while the rest of us enjoy our trips abroad".

News imageAn advertising campaign shows a billboard with the slogan "Concrete", with the the word "Crete" in enlarged type. The poster has an image of someone sleeping on the pavement, and reads "365 nights, 1 adult, no bed & no breakfast". It has a made-up company name called Last Choice.
The advertising drive is called Homelessness Doesn't Take a Holiday

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Related internet links