St Petrocs launches contactless donation points in Cornwall to help homeless

A new project to help support homeless people has been launched in Cornwall.

Homelessness charity St Petrocs said its Tap for Penzance project offered people an alternative to giving money directly to people who begged.

St Petrocs said contactless donation points and QR codes would be placed in shops across the town.

The money would go directly to the charity to help it provide services for people sleeping rough, it said.

St Petrocs said money raised through the trial would help fund its Breadline centre in Penzance.

The centre has helped people sleeping rough in Penzance since 2005 by providing them with hot food, warm clothing, sleeping bags and housing advice.

Lois Wild, the charity's director of engagement, said there had been a "significant increase" in people on the brink of sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.

"It is a project where all the parties came together, recognised there was an issue they wanted to address, and felt this could be a really good way of engaging the local community and local businesses together to find solution to anti-social behaviour and homelessness," he said.

"Last year, we worked with 38% more people who are sleeping rough. That is a staggering figure and we worked with over 1,000 people last year."

Olly Bayliss, from Safer Cornwall, which is supporting the project, said giving people money on the street was not "necessarily the best way to help people with complex needs".

He said: "We are pleased to be giving people visiting Penzance an easy alternative to make sure that their good will goes straight to St Petrocs, who work to achieve long-term solutions to those who are homeless."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.