Even more shops and other premises can now play their part in an inspirational scheme that’s already raised more than £2,000 to help rough sleepers turn their lives around in the Royal Borough.
Tap 4 Lasting Change is the council’s alterative giving scheme, which allows people to simply tap their debit card on a fixed donation point to give a fee of £3 towards the delivery of targeted services for rough sleepers.
As the scheme celebrates its successful first year, the council is praising the community’s incredible generosity and is expanding the scheme so all shops and other premises can now support it – simply by displaying a poster in their window.
Using a smart phone, people can then scan a QR code on the poster to visit a secure website portal and donate £3, £5 or £10 to help end rough sleeping, making either a one-off donation or a regular donation.
These generous donations bolster the individually-tailored support programmes helping former rough sleepers on their journeys to stable accommodation via the council’s successful 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.
Tap 4 Lasting Change provides an opportunity for residents to donate to increased outreach work and the longer-term wellbeing of people sleeping rough, which is the most effective way of tackling the underlying causes of rough sleeping and helping people into sustainable housing.
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.
“We’ve had a successful first year with fixed donation points and now want to expand the opportunities for people to give. 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.
“Since April 2021, we have supported 86 individuals on the Pathway, of which 26 were new onto the Pathway, underpinned by our core values of compassion, thoroughness and cooperation. Together we can make a real difference to people’s lives.”
To participate in Tap 4 Lasting Change, businesses can download a poster from Tap and donate 4 lasting change | Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (rbwm.gov.uk) to display at your premises or email rough.sleeping@rbwm.gov.uk
If you are concerned that someone might be rough sleeping in the Royal Borough, you can let us know by completing a StreetLink referral which will help link individuals with services and support. You can also email or call the council and ask to speak to the Rough Sleeper Team.
Notes to editors:
• Fixed donations points can be found in the below locations. In addition to debit cards, the donation points also accept Apple or Google Pay.
- Ascot: Chewton Rose Estate Agents, 41 High Street, Ascot SL5 7HG.
- Eton: Popeye Grooming, 68 High Street, Eton SL4 6AA.
- Maidenhead: Hard Edge, 98 High Street, Maidenhead SL6 1PT
- Maidenhead: Maidenhead Library, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1QU
- Windsor: Dr Chocs, 23 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1PL
- Windsor: Windsor Library, Batchelors Acre, Windsor, SL4 1ER
• John West House is set to see further investment in 2022/23, continuing to provide supported accommodation along with a range of new facilities which will enable delivery of strength-based key work sessions from a range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies.