MORE details have been revealed about a new scheme helping get homeless people in Newport off the streets.

Last week the Argus reported Newport Now BID had teamed up with charities The Wallich and Eden Gate to launch the Street SupPORT scheme.

The innovative project involves contactless donation points set up at the windows of a number of businesses across the city - with tapping a contactless card providing a £3 donation to the scheme.

Now it has been revealed funds raised will be used to expand the opening hours of the Wallich's drop-in centre in School Lane, which is currently only able to open for two hours a day.

Funds will also be used to expand emergency provision run by Eden Gate. The organisation currently offers a winter night shelter in different churches on a rotation system from November to March.

It is hoped the Street SupPORT fund will help expand this emergency provision beyond the winter months, in a new single venue.

Kevin Ward, Newport Now BID manager, said: “Unlike giving money to individuals in the street, anyone donating to this new fund can have absolute certainty their money will be used to improve two vital projects.

“This is not about businesses saying ‘don’t give to people who beg’. It’s about giving people an alternative method of donation to a fund that will be ring-fenced to provide help for those who need help the most in our city centre.”

He added: “Homelessness is not a problem unique to Newport and there are no easy solutions to what has become one of the major social issues of our time.

“The BID represents around 450 city centre businesses in Newport and we all have a part to play in helping to get people off the streets.”

A Newport Homelessness Action Week will also take place in October as part of the scheme.

Chief executive of The Wallich Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said: “It’s vital that we continue to come up with innovative new solutions and make sure that the good work already happening can continue.

“We’ve all got a collective, community responsibility to help people in need. Street SupPORTis a prime example of a partnership approach with tangible, practical benefits.

“We really hope the community of Newport will get behind it.”

The most recent statistics show there are an estimated 22 rough sleepers in Newport, and 345 across Wales as a whole. The greatest number of these are in Cardiff.

And Welsh Government figures have suggested rough sleeping has increased by 30 per cent in Wales over the past year.

Contactless donation windows can be found at HPJV Solicitors in Baneswell Road, Specsavers at Friars Walk and Livertons Opticians in Charles Street.

Donations can also be made by texting PORT24 £3 to 70070.

For more information visit thewallich.com/street-support