Local campaign Change into Action Solihull has introduced contactless payment points into Solihull town centre making it easier to help local homeless people.
Change into Action Solihull is an alternative giving scheme that was launched in September 2019. Part of a regional campaign to help provide additional support to homeless people in danger of sleeping rough, residents and local businesses have so far raised over £63k. Working alongside local organisations and outreach services, donations are used to fund service improvements, new initiatives or provide additional support for individuals in difficulty.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities, Cllr Alison Rolf, said:
“The figures for people sleeping rough in Solihull are consistently low. I think that that is because we all work together to help support people through difficult times. Local people are our eyes and ears using the national reporting system – Streetlink – to tell us when they spot people who they think are sleeping rough. And our outreach workers work to help and support them until they are ready to move into safe accommodation. We are also involved with the regional Housing First Pilot which supports people into their own tenancies.
“Change into Action Solihull’s role is to help people with additional support. Sometimes these are little things that can make a real difference. It could be clothing for a young homeless person so they can start college with confidence or for an adult who has fled from domestic abuse with just the clothes on their back. It could also be money for furnishings or white goods to help turn their accommodation into somewhere they can call home. These are things that help people to stay in tenancies and have a more secure future.
“By donating online to Change into Action Solihull – or by using the new contactless payment points – people can be confident that their money is supporting people in need of help to make lasting changes.”
Solihull BID Chief Executive, Melanie Palmer, said:
“Solihull BID has been proud to be involved in Change into Action right from the start. Our amazing team of Street Wardens and Business Hosts are often the first people to recognise vulnerable people or those at risk of becoming homeless in the town centre.
“It’s through these close connections that we have worked with businesses to raise awareness and collect funds and now install the contactless donation points. We’d like to express a huge thanks again to Touchwood who sponsored us to enable all funds raised from the Jingle Bell jog to go straight the charity.”
The new Change into Action contactless payments points will initially be placed in Specsavers, The Woods Café and William Hill. Alternatively people can donate online at www.changeintoaction.org.uk/solihull
Since its launch, Change into Action Solihull has raised £63,262. This has been achieved through donations in collecting tins in Solihull town centre and online donations. There have also been generous donations from Homeserve, Legal and General, National Express, Paragon Banking Group, Solihull BID, SCF, The Renewal Centre and Touchwood. Recently Solihull BID’s Jingle Bell Jog raised £3,004.
To contact Solihull Community Housing for emergency provision, call 0121 717 1515 (24/7)
To report and refer someone for help that you think is sleeping rough, contact Streetlink at www.streetlink.org (If you use the what3words app too that is especially helpful.)
If the person appears to be in immediate danger, please call 999.