Contributions made to one of Truro Safe donations points are being used by local organisations to directly help people on the city’s streets.

The Truro Safe Partnership consists of services from Cornwall Council along with Truro City Council, the police, Truro BID, Truro Street Pastors and other local representatives; and is coordinated by the council’s community link officer.

In April the Truro Safe Partnership launched donation points across Truro making it easy for people to donate money to the charities supporting vulnerable individuals to move away from a life on the streets. Truro Safe also distributed an information leaflet across the city called ‘Different Issues, The Same Streets’ for businesses, locals and visitors.

This explains how the partners are responding to the different issues of street drinking, begging and rough sleeping by providing on the ground assertive outreach support to help individuals make positive changes.

To remind people that the work of the partnership is ongoing Truro Safe are redistributing the leaflet across the city.

The Truro Safe partners also recently agreed that the collections from the donation points will go to St Petroc’s and New Start so they can buy some essential kit to give to those assessed as most in need.

Steve Ellis, chief executive of St Petroc’s Society, said: “Cornwall currently has the third highest number of rough sleepers/street homeless in the UK. St Petroc’s has long recognised that only through partnership working will we be able to effectively reduce these numbers and then ensure that they do not grow again in the future. The Truro Safe Partnership is a great innovation and the thoughtful donations have meant that we’ve been able to buy items to help meet individuals’ needs.”

Acting police inspector for Truro Jason Adams added: “This is an excellent example of bringing partners together to find a long term solution to protect some of the most vulnerable in our society. The generosity of the people of Cornwall and beyond is integral to the success of this project, especially as we move towards the winter period.”

There are currently eight donation boxes hosted by businesses in the city including at the Visit Truro tourist office on Boscawen Street, NatWest, Warrens Bakery in High Cross, Superdry, Sole Place, Wetherspoons, Tesco and Truro Methodist Church. Extra donation boxes have been ordered so that other local businesses and venues can get involved.

For more information about Truro Safe and for a copy of the Same Issues, Different Streets leaflet visit safercornwall.co.uk/make-a-difference/truro/. If you’re a business and would like to host a Truro Safe donation box contact Truro BID on 01872 273999.