New cashless donation points aimed at helping the Royal Borough's rough sleepers start a new life will be launched on Monday.

Residents and visitors will be able help local rough sleepers to make real life changes by using contactless donation points in Ascot, Eton, Maidenhead and Windsor.

Councillor Ross McWilliams, the Royal Borough's lead member for housing, communications and youth engagement, said: “Giving spare change to someone begging or sleeping rough on the street might seem like an easy way to help but the relief is temporary, and it doesn’t help create lasting change.

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"Our new Tap 4 Lasting Change scheme means residents and visitors can directly donate to help support long-term change for rough sleepers throughout the borough.

“The money donated will be monitored and distributed to our support agencies through the Homelessness Forum. These services can include counselling, voluntary sector befriending, meals, showers, drug and alcohol detox centres, training in budgeting and cooking, apprenticeships and help in finding work.

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“All of this is designed to find the best way of helping rough sleepers leave behind the dangerous world of life on the streets, and to support them into making the transition into supported accommodation and independent living."

The contactless donation points take all major credit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay and the amount people can donate is fixed at £3 per tap.

Donation points can be found at Dr Chocs, Thames Street, Windsor; Popeye Grooming at 68, Eton High Street; Hard Edge at 98 High Street, Maidenhead and Chewton Rose Estate Agents, 41 High Street, Ascot.

Residents can find out more about the new cashless donation scheme on the council website: https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/housing/homelessness/tap-and-donate-4-lasting-change.