Easier way to help homeless charities across Winchester

With more than 50 collection boxes located in shops, pubs, cafes and other locations around the city, the initiative helps to raise funds for two local charities, Trinity Winchester and Winchester Churches Nightshelter.

Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) facilitates the scheme which is also supported by the city council, and is one of the longest-established diverted giving set ups in the UK.

It is aimed at reducing street begging and rough sleeping by helping those most in need by diverting funds from the streets to local charities - making a lasting difference to those experiencing homelessness in the city.

Jane Bastock, business crime reduction manager at Winchester BID said: “We are very pleased to be working with Donater to launch contactless, cashless and mobile donations for Spare Change for Lasting Change to support the work of Trinity Winchester and the Winchester Churches Nightshelter.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seen cashless payments become the norm and with this new technology on our collection boxes, we can continue to encourage donations to this important scheme in a safe and easy way.”

Winchester BID has been working with Donater, a project developed by local business Sprechen, which helps good causes use technology to receive contactless, cashless and mobile donations.

CEO Steve Cross said: “Covid-19 has accelerated the increasing cashless society, which is having a hugely negative impact on the finances of the charitable sector. Recent media reports have stated one in ten charities could disappear during this period, at a time when they are in most demand. it is important we can find ways to help them adopt digital tools to simplify the process of giving.

“Donater is a truly Winchester project, born out of an open-day idea while working at the University of Winchester, created to support the city’s local charities.”