HWBIDCo, with funding from High Wycombe Community Board installed three Contactless Giving Boxes in the town centre, these are based at the Swan carpark, White Hart Street and High Street in High Wycombe and have been raising funds for the Oasis Partnership.

The boxes and their payment terminals are currently funded by HWBIDCo and enable members of the public to give sensibly and generously to good causes instead of giving cash donations to street beggars which can fuel an ongoing cycle of aggressive begging and drug addiction as opposed to providing meaningful support where it is most needed.

The primary aim of the new partnership is to increase the fundraising capacity of the boxes to raise vital funds for Action4Youth to help address the root causes of crime.

All proceeds from the ‘Diverted Giving Points’ will be channelled to Action4Youth which will go towards funding their Breakout Programme, a hard-hitting 12-week, anti-knife and gang programme designed to bring positive change to the lives of young people at risk of being sucked into crime.

A representative from Action4Youth commented; “We are delighted by the support of HWBIDCo to continue and grow our work in the High Wycombe area, where we already have a long-standing relationship with the community through The Junction, our multi service drop-in youth centre providing specialist support to help young people, as well as a fun timetable of activities for all young people to get involved in. The Breakout programme will help stamp out knife and gang crime and keep our streets and young people safe.”

A representative of Thames Valley Police comments “The High Wycombe Neighbourhood Police team fully supports the diverted giving scheme. Begging is a complex issue and we are working with our partners to find solutions for this. There are members of the public who wish to support these individuals and by using this scheme their donations can be used to best support our local communities. By using this scheme those who wish to make a donation can be assured the money they are donating is being used in the best interest of all of those who most need it”

HWBIDCo Chief Executive, Melanie Williams writes, “Street begging within the town is a complex issue, with intrinsic links to addiction and anti-social behaviour, and by giving cash directly to beggars, members of the public are inadvertently exacerbating these problems rather than helping to solve them. By asking the public to donate through the new ‘Diverted Giving Points’ their financial support can be put to appropriate use. We are not asking the public to stop giving, and we applaud their generosity, but our over-arching message is don’t give direct. We are delighted to be working with a new charity partner who we know is invested in doing some incredible work that will help address the issues behind crime in the town centre and support young people.”