City firms doing their bit to help homeless

IN response to the letter (“Firms should put cash into helping homeless”, WM, September 14) I would like to clarify a number of points.

Firstly, firms have put cash into helping the homeless and will continue to do so. FOR Cardiff, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) fully funded and launched a scheme called Give DIFFerently earlier this year. Give DIFFerently offered the public the chance to help those at risk of homelessness or living a street-based lifestyle by using a contactless payment point on the Hayes to encourage people to donate without cash.

The money raised is collated by the Community Foundation in Wales where it was doubled by The Four Acre Trust. Support organisations can and have applied for grants of up to £750 through their outreach workers. This can be for ID, clothes for an interview, a bike to get around on, for example.

Grants have been awarded to the likes of The Huggard, Wallich, and Street Football Wales. The marketing of what is a nationally award-winning project was funded by businesses who are members of FOR Cardiff. The scheme was set up to try to get those on the streets out of the vicious cycle of homelessness by providing financial support that is spent on items which can make a positive difference, as well as educate those who want to help to understand how best to help them in the longer term.

Our next campaign phase is imminent and includes more contactless points, a charter and pledges for anyone to sign up to lend their support.

Our additional police officers are employed by South Wales Police and funded by FOR Cardiff. They deal with a number of issues not highlighted in the letter. These include shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, blocked entrances and fire exits, recovering property, visiting businesses to provide reassurance, street drinking where it is not permitted and referring people who are vulnerable on the streets by implementing the five-step pathway protocol for effective joint working between South Wales Police and homeless services to address persistent street-begging activity and anti-social behaviour.

They will deal with issues as police officers but will be more available to the businesses, and won’t replace existing provision but will provide an additional resource. More police on the streets is reassuring to all, including the vulnerable, and businesses are willing to fund this to deal with the issues they tell us need dealing with.

We also fund the brilliant street pastors and night marshals and last week funded three violence and vulnerability training courses for 143 employees in the city centre. Please also don’t forget our street ambassadors, who ensure that those who need help get it.

Hopefully the projects outlined above demonstrate that we are helping everyone – traders, the public and those who are on the streets. Adrian Field Executive Director, FOR Cardiff