Fareham Street Aid website launched to help rough sleepers

20 September 

Fareham Street Aid website launched to help rough sleepers

A new website, Fareham Street Aid, has been launched as a platform for agencies working together in Fareham to help vulnerable people off the streets.

The new website: www.farehamstreetaid.org.uk  features information about all the agencies who play a part in helping those sleeping rough in the Borough. It also explains how people can help – whether that be through donating their time, goods, money or food – and provides contact details for charities who can collect and redistribute items. There is also a link for anyone wishing to make a monetary donation. 

Fareham Street Aid's key message is that it is better to give to the charities that support rough sleepers, and have staff specifically trained to help them, rather than giving direct.

The key agencies involved in Fareham Street Aid are Fareham Borough Council, Fareham's Community Safety Partnership, Fareham Housing, Two Saints Hostel, Hampshire Constabulary, One Community and Inclusion Recovery Hampshire and there are also a number of support agencies such as One Community, Hampshire County Council and Acts of Kindness. All those involved share information and work together to help rough sleepers.

The needs of those sleeping rough can be quite complex, spanning substance misuse issues, mental and physical health concerns to financial and employment difficulties. By working together, all agencies operating under the Fareham Street Aid umbrella can offer assistance carefully tailored to meet individual needs and issues.

The new website provides contact details for all participating partners along with links to appropriate websites so the public can understand how they work both individually and as part of a support package. 

Georgina Shane, of Two Saints, said: "If you donate money through our website, we'll use it to directly help people who are homeless, vulnerable or in need of support. Just £5 will provide socks and toiletries and a donation of £20 - £40 could provide a move on pack including kettle, iron, cutlery, crockery and tea towels for someone ready to return to independent living.

"We also use donations to pay for bus tickets to attend important appointments or clothes and equipment for work or college. All donations will be put to excellent use."

Hayley Hamlett of One Community, said: "We have an Information Centre inside Fareham Shopping Centre where, by prior arrangement, we can accept donations which we will directly hand to the organisations who support those in need.   

"We work closely with 'Acts of Kindness' which has an office above our shop where we store toiletries, bedding and sleeping bags. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, we are unable to accept clothes."

District Commander for Fareham, Chief Inspector Sharon Woolrich from Hampshire Constabulary, said: "Fareham's Neighbourhood Policing Team has been working hard to address anti-social behaviour linked to things like begging and street drinking.

"By working together with partner agencies we can find ways, like Fareham Street Aid, to assist with the root causes of these issues and provide support to some of the most vulnerable people in our community".

Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Sean Woodward, said: "We would encourage people to have a look at the website and donate either money, time or goods to the appropriate agency or charity rather than giving to rough sleepers directly. By doing this we believe we can help these vulnerable rough sleepers to live off the streets rather than helping them to stay on the streets."

ENDS

For further information contact:

The Communications Team, Tel: 01329 824310

e-mail: publicity@fareham.gov.uk

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