A TOP social entrepreneur who has raised more than £25 million for homelessness will be sharing his expertise to Dorset businesses.

Josh Littlejohn MBE will be showing local enterprises how to break the cycle of homelessness and create thriving communities at the Homelessness Partnership BCP’s inaugural gala evening.

As the founder of Social Bite, a chain of sandwich shops offering employment and free food, Josh has gained the attention of A-list celebrities and royalty.

Hollywood star George Clooney visited an outlet in Edinburgh in 2015, followed by Oscar-winning Leonardo DiCaprio in 2016.

Members of the royal family, such as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Duchess of Cambridge, have also visited sites to learn more about eradicating homelessness.

Since opening in 2012, Social Bite has now employed more than 100 people who have experienced homelessness and gives out more than 140,000 items of free food each year.

“I’m excited to be sharing the story of Social Bite – it has been a whirlwind journey, and one that has taught me that to eradicate homelessness, we need to listen to the stories of people who have experienced homelessness, learn from them and embrace change,” said Josh.

“Collectively, as a business community, we have a responsibility to look after people who are marginalised and isolated from the system and bring them in to the fold.

“It’s a fundamental stepping stone of building a brighter future – one that provides hope.”

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BCP has recently been selected as a trailblazer region for Homewards, the new homelessness prevention programme from The Royal Foundation, led by HRH The Prince of Wales.

“I’ve always believed that anyone can change the world, and with the high-profile backing of Prince William, the BCP area has been empowered to deliver a pioneering approach that makes a tangible difference to the lives of those who have suffered from homelessness,” said Josh.

Along with employment support, Josh and his team also launched the Social Bite Village and Scotland’s Housing First programme, both working to provide homes for rough sleepers.

Josh’s dedication to improving the lives of others earned him an MBE, five honorary doctorates, and made the list of Debrett’s 500 most influential people in the UK.

The gala evening will be taking place at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa on September 21 and tickets can be found on Eventbrite’s website titled ‘Gala Fundraising evening at the Chewton Glen’.