Worthing blogger Chizzy is on a mission to help the homeless

Steve Chiswell, more commonly known as Chizzy to his 12,000 Instagram followers, is collecting donations for 50 gift sacks to distribute to rough sleepers in Brighton and Worthing.

The Worthing-based social media star writes about food and gained a following after he started making videos about teaching his two daughters to cook.

He decided to help people on the streets after his six-year-old Fifi suggested it.

The 38-year-old said: “We were walking to the car after a meal at the Fish Factory in Worthing and there was a homeless person asking for change.

“I just walked past, as I expect most people do, and Fifi asked me why I hadn’t given them any money.

“She said, ‘It’s Christmas Dad’.

“So I gave her a fiver to give to him and the bloke’s face just lit up.”

This week Chizzy put out a message online to his subscribers requesting donations so he could put together 50 gift sacks including items such as hats, gloves toothpaste, deodorant and even dog treats.

Chizzy said the response has been “overwhelming”.

He said: “ We had donations coming in straight away – it was only three days ago that I put out the plea for donations.

“Worthing business Next Gen Roofing put in £500 and have lent me one of their vans to distribute the sacks, and we’ve also had donations from Premier Gardening in Peacehaven and Turner Pies, who gave us boxes of mince pies. It’s all been through social media – it’s great to have so much support.”

Chizzy has been shopping for items and will be giving out the sacks in Brighton and Worthing this weekend.

He said: “As we’ve already got so many sacks full, we are going to get some gift tags to say Merry Christmas from Chizzy and everyone who has contributed.”