'Give Where It Counts' - that's the message from Islington Council as it aims to persuade the public to give to charity rather than directly to people who beg.The campaign, aimed at making tourists, visitors and local people think about what they doing when they give money to beggars got underway this week (Monday January 17 2005), as a series of posters went up in Highbury & Islington, Angel and Finsbury Park Tube stations.The posters focus on the issue of extended childhood trauma as a well known contributing factor. The campaign also features substance misuse and wider community safety issues and asks the public to donate to charities, who can help people make positive changes to their lives.Councillor Jyoti Vaja, executive member for housing and community safety said:“Giving to beggars can encourage them to stay on the street. Giving to charities to help homeless people instead makes an actual difference. Many Charities like St Mungo's are dedicated to helping people on the street to make a new start. So think before handing over money and make sure that it goes where it will actually make a difference."Islington Council's ‘Give Where it Counts’ campaign is also supported by St Mungo’s homelessness charity. St Mungo’s works with Islington council to help people off the streets and into accommodation and services. Since April this year they have worked with 68 rough sleepers and a further 50 beggars who are not rough sleeping. St Mungo's Outreach Manager, Luton Sinfield said: "St Mungo's would like the public to think very carefully before giving to people who beg. The unfortunate reality is that research shows that this money is very likely to be spent on alcohol or drugs. We want the public to maintain their compassion for those on the streets. And the best way to help is to make a donation to local charities such as St Mungo's as we workdirectly with vulnerable men and women on Islington's streets. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the borough, local agencies and the police to make the streets safer and more pleasant for those who live, visit and work in Islington."Islington police are also fully behind the campaign, backing up the work with special targeted enforcement operations during the next month that will help get people treatment. Those found begging will be arrested and required to attend drugs treatment programmes if they test positive for drugs. Inspector Bryan Spence of Islington's police said: “Begging can affect everyone’s quality of life and due to the drugs association directly contributes to some crime. Islington police are committed to work in partnership with others to do what we can to reduce it. The public can make a big difference by choosing carefully where to put their money.”Give where it counts follows on from the 'Break the Chain' campaign in 2003 which aimed to get people to give to charity rather than to individual beggars.endsSince April last year Islington has moved 68 rough sleepers into accommodation (showing an improvement every year) in achieving their targets. The majority of these have also been supported into drugs treatment. 50 people who are begging or street drinking have also been helped off the streets through 179 interventions including accessing benefits, treatment, obtaining ID, case conferencing with social services, and offering advice and information.Notes: 87% of people begging in Islington are found by relevant services to have serious problems with heroin, crack cocaine or alcohol or a combination of these, (Street Population Strategy 2003-5).Photographs and copies of the poster attached
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008