BedfordBID has been acting on business who have expressed concerns regarding the number of genuinely homeless people - and regular "professional" beggars (persons with permanent place of residence, begging for financial gain) in the town. 

It was a topic first raised at a Business Breakfast in Spring 2016 and BedfordBID produced the first leaflet (see below) which brought together all the official and charity services available to those in need. Since then BedfordBID has been working with the multi-agency Community Safety Partnership.

Action has now been taken by the council which has opened new accommodation in St John’s Street, and of course there has been great work by The Salvation Army and YMCA. 

Now the Harpur Trust has funded a co-ordinator role: Sam Price is experienced in this field and a champion of a 'Hand Up not Hand Out' campaign which directs people to making donations via www.bedfordhomeless.org.uk  rather than giving cash to those begging.

“Of course people want to help when they see someone in this situation, but the advice of all the experts who work with those who are homeless, for whatever reason, is that their money will be put to the best use by donating to one of the charities included on bedfordhomeless.org.uk  

"Via this site people can choose which charity they give to. Our businesses are advised to bring this website to the attention of their customers as an alternative to handing over cash on the street,” said Christina Rowe, Director of BedfordBID