Aylesbury residents urged to donate to local charities instead of street beggars

The council have outlined concerns about how people begging on the street will use the money, with fears that it will allow drug and alcohol abusers money to fuel their habits.
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As part of the 'Spare Change or Real Change?' Campaign, people are being urged to donate to charities and agencies instead that can help the homeless to make positive changes in their lives.

The council have said that not all people begging are homeless – but instead suggest that some use begging as a way of supporting their habit.

They say: "There are a minority of people begging who are genuinely homeless – but there are a range of support services that are there to help them.

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"And, during the whole of January and February, Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC), working in partnership with Vale of Aylesbury Housing, has emergency accommodation available – providing a number of bed spaces for those sleeping on the streets."

The campaign highlights ways that members of the public can support people with genuine needs.

This includes talking to beggars and offering them food or a drink, rather than cash; encouraging them to engage with support services – including the free overnight emergency accommodation; and supporting local charities working with local homeless people, either by donating or volunteering their time.

The Aylesbury Vale Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI), led by AVDC, involves a coordinated partnership of agencies offering a comprehensive package of support including housing advice and support, money management support, support for substance misuse and mental health issues.

The campaign is being supported with posters in and around Aylesbury town centre; posters and leaflets being made available to town centre businesses and social media posts that highlight the benefit of diverted giving.

To find out more about the initiative, the support available to rough sleepers and beggars in Aylesbury Vale please visit: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/rough-sleeper-initiative.Councillor Mark Winn, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Working closely with our partners we have made significant progress in assisting street homeless move into accommodation. More needs to be done to assist those with significant and complex support needs – but we also need the help and involvement of the public to achieve success.

“No one should feel guilty if they don’t give cash to people begging, as there is a network of support ready to help people make real and positive changes to their lives.

“There is no need for anyone to beg in order to survive. In addition to the emergency accommodation we are now able to provide and the various support services, there are also a number of local charities and church groups that provide free hot meals to people in need.

“Given that the life expectancy of someone living on the streets is early to mid-40s we are desperate to engage with people and offer them assistance as soon as possible.

“I've been out at night and met lots of our rough sleepers. Many have serious addiction issues. Our dedicated team of outreach workers is trying to help them on a journey from addiction, so that they don’t live on the streets. There have been real success stories.

Money given to those that beg often helps fund an addiction. Please talk to them. Give them food if you wish. Divert money to some great local charities. But, please, don’t give money to those that beg.”

The Rough Sleeper Initiative is being supported into a second year of grant funding from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.

To date partners in the project have supported more than 60 individuals who were homeless, or at risk of becoming street homeless, into accommodation and are actively engaging with those still living on the streets of the Vale, offering the specialist assistance and support to encourage these individuals into their own accommodation.