By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A fourth contactless payment point has been installed in Sherwood as part of a scheme to help people give money in a safe and reliable way to people sleeping rough or facing homelessness in Nottingham.
The Nottingham Street Aid initiative launched in February this year to give people a simple way of donating directly to those in need of support.
The new point has been installed as the number of people sleeping rough has increased by 21 per cent in the city over the last two years, rising from 604 people to 729.
The first contactless payment points were set up in the Victoria Centre and at the Theatre Royal on April 6, while a third was recently installed at McDonald’s in Clumber Street.
A fourth payment point has now been installed in Mansfield Road, Sherwood, earlier in August, becoming the first point to become operational outside the city centre.
Dr Paul Scotting, who has been coordinating the initiative, says around £600 per month is being raised through the payment points.
He said: “
To donate, people approach the machine, tap their card, and a £3 donation will be made.
It will appear on bank statements as a payment to the Notts Community Foundation, which is one of the partners of the initiative.
The idea for the initiative was inspired by Cambridge Street Aid, Dr Scotting says, and a similar initiative has also been running in Leicester since 2019.
Money donated goes into a fund managed by the Notts Community Foundation, and charities can bid for access to some of the money which must be spent on items for a person who is homeless.
The initiative is being supported by Nottingham City Council and the business community, including the Nottingham BID and The Nottingham Building Society.
Dr Scotting says the Sherwood payment point was installed “thanks to the efforts and support” of Mike Douglas, who runs the Sherwood Business Centre.`
Mr Douglas, who has lived in Sherwood for the past 30 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I love the idea.
“There are some instances where there are people begging, and are not homeless.
“Some people think giving them cash is the best approach. It is about education.
“[Nottingham Street Aid] is a coordinated way of letting people give people money, and not exacerbating the problem.
“People can stand on the streets, lie to your face, and get money off vulnerable people.
“If people want to give then they can, and this is not about stopping people giving people their hard-earned cash.
“But in a lot of cases they have no idea they are funding serious and organised crime.
“It is about raising awareness and giving people a channel to help people.”
