Donating funds to help people to leave a life on the streets has just become easier.

Four contactless giving points have been installed in the Bournemouth area.

They are at: HSBC UK bank, Beale Place, Bournemouth; Bournemouth Library, The Triangle; ‘Half Time’ YMCA/Faithworks, Westover Road, Bournemouth and Hope & More, Hope Housing, Seabourne Road, Southbourne.

The donation points give people another way to help someone off the streets and prevent rough sleeping locally by simply tapping a payment card at a donation point to give £3. The whole 100 per cent donation is guaranteed to help homeless people locally.

The scheme has been developed by the Homelessness Partnership made up of local charities, businesses and public sector organisations. All money raised goes to the partnership’s ‘Change for Good’ campaign. To date, donations could be made via the Just Giving page (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/changeforgoodBournemouth). The new donation points will make it easier for people to donate whilst out and about in town and the aim is to install further donation points across the whole of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Alistair Doxat-Purser, chairman of the Partnership Forum, said: “As COVID-19 restrictions ease and the high streets open up, the partnership is raising the profile of ‘Change for Good’ to give members of the public an alternative way of helping those who are seeking to escape homelessness.

“We hope that these new contactless giving points will make it even easier for all of us to enable local charities and agencies to provide that additional help that will mean an individual never goes back to the street.

“Change for Good has already made a difference: The first successful application for funds helped an individual move into their own independent ‘home’ by providing basics like a fridge/freezer. This in turn opened up a space for someone who had been on the street to move into their now empty space in temporary accommodation – a double win.

“Other applications have included one to one coaching with a trauma support worker, equipment for day-time support activities, phone power-banks, and replacing identification: anything to help a person make a new start.”

Cllr Hazel Allen, lead member for homelessness and rough sleeping, BCP Council said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the first donation points. We’ve had great support from all sectors including local charities and town centre businesses who are behind this new initiative and I hope it provides a simple and effective way for local people to be able to donate and be confident in knowing every penny goes to help those who are in need of help to move off the streets and access the help and support they need towards a more positive future.”