Donation boxes have been placed across Truro to make it easier to donate to charities who are working to support vulnerable individuals move away from a life on the streets.

The Truro Safe Partnership, which consists of charities, public sector organisations and local business, placed the boxes and produced a leaflet for business, locals and visitors.

Titled ‘Different Issues, The Same Streets', the leaflet explains how Truro Safe are responding to different issues affecting the city.

The leaflet suggests people street drinking or begging are not necessarily rough sleepers, and not all rough sleepers are drinking or begging.

Last month the public, private and voluntary organisations that make up Safer Cornwall joined up with Truro Safe to support a local response to concerns regarding a specific group of vulnerable individuals sleeping rough in the city.

Sarah Necke, community safety officer and representative for Safer Cornwall, said: “Safer Cornwall and Truro Safe have been engaging with and supporting a group of vulnerable individuals rough sleeping in Truro with multiple needs which include mental and physical ill health, learning disabilities and drug and alcohol issues.

"Some of the behaviour from these individuals has been unacceptable.

"Our partnership approach with agencies in Truro involves Addaction, St Petroc’s and Konnect Cornwall providing intensive assertive outreach support to the individuals.

"This multi-agency team approach has been very positive and all the individuals within this group have been supported into accommodation or treatment maximising their opportunities to make positive, longer term changes.

"Calls to the police and pressure on A&E have greatly reduced as a result of this approach.”

The team will continue to work together to support individuals involved in street drinking, begging and/or rough sleeping.

The donation points in Truro can be found at Visit Truro, Tesco, Natwest, Tremletts, The Cornish Foodbox, Hendra Health Store, Superdry, The Try Dowr and Sole Plaice.

All money collected will go to the charities officially providing tailored support to those most in need on Truro's streets.

Rick Milburn, Truro Inspector from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "It’s vital that our multi-agency approach continues to ensure the most vulnerable people in our communities receive the support they require.

"The issues of street drinking, which are not always connected with homelessness, are now common nationally and will sometimes result in anti-social behaviour which can affect resident’s quality of life, business and tourism trade.

"Our co-ordinated approach through Truro Safe and Safer Cornwall is proving to be really positive and is fully supported by Devon and Cornwall Police.”

Alun Jones, from Totally Truro, said: “As part of the Truro Safe Partnership, we’ve been liaising with local businesses and we’d like to thank those local businesses who have agreed to have a donation point.

"The recent work of the local charities and organisations providing support to those on Truro’s streets has been very positive; giving to the donation points will help the charities to be able to continue this work.”

Partnership working is continuing to address the long term issues around rough sleeping throughout Cornwall.

Funded by a successful £292,000 bid to the Government’s Rough Sleeper Programme, ‘No First Night Out’, is now in place.

This involves a new team of experienced outreach, housing options and resettlement officers from Cornwall Housing, Coastline and St Petroc’s Society working together to help those who are facing pressures that could tip them over into rough sleeping.

In addition a further £850,000 has been allocated by Cornwall Council and Cornwall Housing to produce a long term Cornwall Rough Sleeping Strategy.

This will be delivered in partnership between Cornwall Council, Cornwall Housing Ltd, Voluntary Sector Providers, Safer Cornwall, the Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Devon & Cornwall Police, Public Health and Inclusion Cornwall.