LONDON
ASSEMBLY
LABOUR
Press office: 020 7983 4952
News release
18.12.2018
For immediate use
Homeless can be helped
this Christmas
with the tap of a card
Londonwide Assembly Member, Fiona Twycross AM, is urging local people to use new contactless donation points rolled out by City Hall to help rough sleepers this winter. Ms Twycross is also calling upon those unable to access a contactless point to instead donate to the campaign online to ensure those sleeping rough on London’s streets can be reached this Christmas.
The contactless points, created by not-for-profit company, TAP London, allow people to easily make a £3 donation by card, which will be shared equally across the 22 members of the London Homeless Charities Group. Since late November, 53 TAP London donation points have been launched across the capital, with the rollout of at least 37 more on the horizon over the winter.
Last week, it was revealed that Londoners have donated £78,000 in the first two weeks of the fundraising campaign.
The installation of the donation points comes alongside the Mayor doubling the size of City Hall’s street outreach team and putting measures in place to ensure that severe weather shelters will open across London whenever freezing temperatures are anticipated.
The latest available data from the Greater London Authority (GLA) shows that between July 2018 and September 2018, the number of rough sleepers recorded in Croydon was 105.
In December 2017, the Mayor of London launched his ‘No Second Night Out’ campaign which encourages Londoners to refer rough sleepers to homeless charities and local authorities through the ‘StreetLink’ app and website. Londoners have made almost 1,500 referrals to StreetLink in the last fortnight alone.
Londonwide Assembly Member, Fiona Twycross AM, said:
“It is shameful that so many people in our community will be homeless this winter. Christmas is a costly time for everyone, so we’re asking people to give whatever they can, however small, to help those in our community sleeping rough on our streets.
“Last year, we saw an incredible amount of generosity from Londoners who pledged thousands to the Mayor’s rough sleeping campaign. In the same spirit, I would urge local people to use these contactless points or make a donation to support the vital work of the London Homeless Group online.
“I also strongly recommend using the StreetLink app to refer anyone seen sleeping rough in our community to organisations and council teams so that they can provide a helping hand”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- City Hall has rolled out contactless donation points across the capital to help rough sleepers this winter. A full list of TAP London donation points installed so far, can be found here;
- The contactless points, created by not-for-profit company, TAP London, will allow local people to easily make a £3 donation by card, which will be shared equally across the 22 members of the London Homeless Charities Group;
- Since late November, 53 TAP London donation points have been launched across the capital, with the rollout of at least 37 more on the horizon over the winter.
- Last week, it was revealed that Londoners have donated £78,000 in the first two weeks of the fundraising campaign.
- The installation of the donation points comes alongside the Mayor doubling the size of City Hall’s street outreach team and putting measures in place to ensure that severe weather shelters will open across London whenever freezing temperatures are anticipated;
- The latest available data from the Greater London Authority (GLA) shows that between July 2018 and September 2018, the number of rough sleepers recorded in Croydon was 105;
- In December 2017, the Mayor of London launched his ‘No Second Night Out’ campaign which encourages Londoners to refer rough sleepers to homeless charities and local authorities through the ‘StreetLink’ app and website.
- In the last fortnight, Londoners have made 1,474 referrals to StreetLink;
- A mostly updated map of contactless donation points locations can be found on the TAP London website;
- Donations can be made online through the TAP London website;
- Fiona Twycross AM is a Londonwide Assembly Member.