People and communities
Council promotes charitable giving ‘Change into Action’ initiative
Published on
Walsall Council is urging the public to donate to a charitable giving scheme aimed at addressing rough sleeping and drawing attention to the distinction between genuine rough sleepers and those involved in organised begging.
Called ‘Change into Action’, the scheme is supported by Walsall Council, the Mayor of the West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority, and its aim is to support those in genuine need while tackling criminal activity on the streets.
“ In Walsall, research tells us that only one in five people begging on the streets is homeless and a genuine rough sleeper.
“There is a clear distinction between those in genuine need and those whose begging could be linked to organised criminal activity. We believe action is needed to ensure Walsall remains a safe and welcoming place, and that’s why we’re warning the public about this, as many residents feel unsafe due to aggressive, organised begging in their local communities. “
“ As a council, we have a moral and legal duty to support those in genuine hardship, and we provide services such as emergency accommodation, employment support, addiction recovery, medical care, and essential items for rough sleepers. It’s important that we help people rebuild their lives with dignity, and I believe in this passionately.
“It’s natural that people want to be kind and donate, which is why we are promoting the Change into Action programme as a safer, alternative way of charitable giving.
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Change into Action is an alternative giving scheme supporting specialist charities and street teams working to change the circumstances of rough sleepers. The initiative encourages the public to donate to local charities and support services that work directly with individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring contributions provide long-term support rather than enabling exploitative activities.
Walsall Council remains committed to addressing homelessness and rough sleeping with compassion while ensuring the safety of the wider community. Residents are encouraged to support structured initiatives that provide meaningful assistance to those in need.
For further information on the Change into Action programme and to donate visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/change-into-action-walsall
