A SCHEME to help rough sleepers turn their lives around has launched in the Royal Borough.

The initiative, Tap 4 Lasting Change, is encouraging shops and other businesses to play their part and display a poster in their window to help end rough sleepers.

And the scheme has already raised more than £2,000 to go towards those in need.

It allows people to tap their debit card on a fixed donation point to give a fee of £3 towards targeted services for rough sleepers.

As RBWM celebrates a successful first year of the scheme, it is praising the community’s generosity and is expanding the scheme so all shops and other premises can now support it.

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Using a smart phone, people can scan a QR code on the poster to visit a secure website portal and donate £3, £5 or £10, making either a one-off donation or a regular donation.

And the donations will go towards support programmes helping former rough sleepers to get stable accommodation via the council’s three-step Rough Sleeper Pathway.

The pathway maps the journey from first contact with a rough sleeper, through an initial assessment of needs, to identifying and accessing tailored support and eventually gaining secure accommodation.

Councillor Ross McWilliams, cabinet member for housing, sports and leisure, and community engagement, said: “I can’t praise enough the incredible generosity of those who have supported Tap 4 Lasting Change.

“The council’s Rough Sleeper Pathway is delivered in partnership with local NHS, homelessness charities, police, Resilience and other support services, and is the most effective way to help vulnerable people sleeping rough get off the streets, tackle the underlying causes of rough sleeping, and help them into sustainable housing.

“So I encourage everyone to please keep on giving and hope many local high street businesses will take up this new offer.”

Cllr McWilliams added the council has had a successful first year with fixed donation points and now want to expand the opportunities for people to give.

He said: “Displaying the poster is a simple way for more shops to become donation points and play their part in our vital partnership work towards ending rough sleeping in the Royal Borough.

“By supporting Tap 4 Lasting Change, either by donating as an individual or becoming a donation point as a shop, you are bolstering our Rough Sleeper Pathway, which is helping vulnerable people to make a lasting transition into supported accommodation and then independent living.”

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Cllr Williams explained since April 2021, the council has supported 86 individuals on the Pathway.

He said: “Together we can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Download the Tap 4 Lasting Change poster from the RBWM website.