Three local charities are thanking restaurants across Cornwall for helping raise cash to tackle homelessness and food poverty.

StreetSmart is an annual campaign that began on November 1 and will run until December 31, raising money for St Petroc's Society, Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust and the Cornish branches of Foodbank, through restaurants asking their diners' permission to add £1 to their bill.

13 restaurants have been taking part including: Nathan Outlaw's at St. Enodoc Hotel, in Rock; The Halsetown Inn, in Halsetown; Archie Browns, in Truro and Penzance; Carbis Bay Hotel's Beach Club Restaurant, in Carbis Bay; The Old School Bar & Kitchen, in Mount Hawke; Alba, in St. Ives; The Square, Kota and Kota Kai, in Porthleven; No. 4 Peterville and Schooner's Bistro, in St. Agnes and The Victoria Inn, in Perranuthnoe.

StreetSmart sponsors Deutsche Bank cover all administrations costs, meaning that every pound donated in Cornwall through the scheme in November and December will go to the three nominated local charities.

There are more than ten Foodbanks in Cornwall, each dedicated to feeding local people in crisis, providing nutritionally balanced emergency food parcels for those in need.

Food is donated by the community then distributed through a network of dedicated volunteers; there are always advisors on hand to give information about benefits, rights and other sources of support. Food boxes consist of tinned, dried and long-life food - a typical weekly box includes pasta, rice, cereal, long-life juice, tea, coffee, tinned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

Adrian Curtis, foodbank network director at The Trussell Trust, said: "We would like to acknowledge the support received from the StreetSmart campaign which will help to support the existing network of Foodbanks in Cornwall. We rely on the generosity of people and organizations such as StreetSmart to continue our work helping people in crisis."

St Petroc's is an organization working with single homeless people in Cornwall and has been the recipient of StreetSmart for the last five years, with the money used to ensure procedures are in place to help protect vulnerable people throughout the cold winter months.

Steve Ellis, chief executive of St. Petroc's Society, said: "StreetSmart has been active for several years in Cornwall and here at St.Petroc's we have always felt privileged to be a beneficiary of these wonderful donations.

"The money contributed is used every winter in support of our cold weather provision', which is a service throughout December and January to ensure that all street homeless have a warm and safe place to stay. The service not only changes lives but saves them. To all the restaurants, pubs, hotels and other contributors and their customers a sincere thank you."

Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust provides accommodation and support for men, women and children who have been victims of domestic violence; one in three local authorities does not have a women's refuge, so we are lucky that Cornwall provides somewhere safe to go.

This year, StreetSmart funds have helped to brighten up bedrooms and replace appliances, some of which were very tired.

A refuge manager from Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust said: "We would like to acknowledge and thank StreetSmart for their continued generous donations. We work to extremely tight budgets to provide essential support, so such kindness enables us to focus on the day to day things most people take for granted.

"When you realise that some families arrive with little more than the clothes on their back, it is great to be able to make their personal space inviting and comfortable. We aim to give our families help to rebuild their relationships, whilst managing the trauma of their abusive pasts.

"We have also just opened the first male refuge in the South West, offering support to male victims of domestic abuse and their children. In addition to operating a 24 Hour Domestic Abuse Helpline for men and women (16+) seeking advice and support, the CWRT provides many other services to support victims of domestic abuse."

If you would like to support StreetSmart this winter, whether you are dining out to celebrate the festive season or simply enjoying an evening of good food, please choose a StreetSmart restaurant and help the many vulnerable people in Cornwall during the challenging winter.

For more information about StreetSmart and the participating restaurants in Cornwall, please visit www.streetsmart.org.uk If your restaurant would like to join the campaign to raise funds for these three vital charities, please contact Eventy - Marketing & PR on 01326 376273 or at info@eventy.co.uk.