ROUGH sleepers in Colchester are to be supported through an innovative new scheme which will make pledging donations to those in need easier.
Colchester Business Improvement District has today (APRIL 5) announced the launch of its Tap4Change project, making the city the first place in Essex to offer it.
Residents will be able to tap a contactless terminal with their bank card to securely donate £2 to charity Beacon House in Crouch Street.
A donation point can be found next to Primark in Lion Walk Shopping Centre while another two will “roam” around the city at different points.
They are in operation from today with the permanent terminal being in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week for one year.
Colchester BID boss Sam Good said he is “delighted” to launch the new scheme.
“By tapping your bank card on one of our three terminals, you can donate £2 which will help vulnerable homeless people access wider specialist support at Beacon House Ministries,” said Mr Good.
“You will be supporting those who need it most. For example, your donation could help fund a hot meal and drink, a counselling session, medical treatment, or a bed for the night”.
Steve Brown, the chief executive officer of Beacon House, previously said the donations from members of the public will help the charity continue to transform people’s lives.
He said: “Our charity has supported the city of Colchester for over 26 years.
“During that time, we’ve seen many changes. Currently, our city has a positive vibe, but we must remember that we still have large numbers of people who are homeless and in desperate need.”
The news comes as figures published last month revealed even more people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Colchester last year.
Data by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show seven people were sleeping rough in the area.
The number was based on a snapshot of a single night in autumn 2022 – up from two the year before.
In the city, 3.6 per 100,000 people were estimated to be sleeping rough last year, increasing from one the previous year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel