Help people on the streets, through Big Change, your donation will help the most vulnerable on our streets today

Big Change: Richard Shaw, Sanctuary Trust; Denis Skelton, Petrus; Councillor Shaun O'Neill, Chair of the Rochdale Township; Margaret Wight, Rochdale Foodbank; Mark Foxley, Rochdale Town Centre Management

A group of charities and organisations has teamed up to create a special fund that will be used to provide homeless vulnerable people with practical items they need to build new lives away from the streets, and they need your help.

Instead of dropping your money into their tubs or hats on the street, donate now through Big Change and be confident your money will help the most vulnerable on our streets today, 100% of your donation will go directly to the charities:

http://bigchangerochdale.co.uk/donate-to-the-campaign/

The Big Change campaign is spearheaded by Rochdale Town Centre Management with support from Petrus, Stepping Stone Projects, Rochdale Foodbank, Sanctuary Trust, the council and the police and is designed to support people who are sleeping rough in Rochdale at the moment, and others who beg in the town centre.

This network of support services which form the Big Change steering group, are working together to provide sustainable, long-term solutions to homelessness.

They provide supported accommodation and support people to manage a tenancy agreements, furnish a new home, manage income and expenditure, and build a positive productive life in the community away from the streets.

The campaign is urging people who live in, work in and visit Rochdale Town centre to donate money to the fund if they want to help vulnerable people who are forced into begging for money on the streets and rough sleepers, rather than give money directly to people who are begging on the streets.

Denis Skelton, from Petrus, one of the charities involved in the scheme, said: "Donations will help us give people even more help with jobs and training, counselling and advice with benefits, as well as clothing and food and help with housing. They will also help us run our supported housing scheme for vulnerable women in central Rochdale.

"People who donate can be sure that their money will be going straight to those who need it and helping them in really practical ways."

Mark Foxley, from Rochdale Town Centre Management, said: "We are proud to have a lot of very compassionate people here in Rochdale who want to help but sometimes giving money directly can make things worse."

Councillor Shaun O'Neill, Chairman of the Rochdale Township, said: "We have some people on our streets who are vulnerable and in need of support, but giving money to them directly isn't a good idea. The charities are the best people to help them build a life away from the streets and by giving via this website, you can help them do just that."

Be confident your money will help the most vulnerable on our streets today and donate now through Big Change:

http://bigchangerochdale.co.uk/donate-to-the-campaign/