An ‘Alternative Giving’ scheme to tackle street begging is to be relaunched in Glasgow.

Street Change Glasgow was disrupted due to the pandemic and lockdowns affecting the number of people in the city centre.

To date, since it was first started, around 1600 donations have been made with £6,500 raised.

Another £1500 has been raised through the Street Change Glasgow just giving page.

Another project, with the best Bar None awards scheme, raised another £4,500 taking the total to £12,500.

The council said the cash has been used to help 35 people.

The ideas is that through ‘giving points’ in key city centre locations people can donate money that is used to fund services to help people with homelessness issues.

In a report to councillors, Allan Casey, Chair of the Begging Strategy Steering Group, said: “A relaunch of Street Change Glasgow is planned by Simon Community Scotland to help improve brand awareness, especially as a transition to post-Covid recovery is anticipated.

“Opportunities to roll out Street Change Glasgow and any other transferable projects to local town centres will also be explored.”

There are concerns that the economic impact of the covid pandemic could lead to more people suffering extreme hardship and could see more begging.

Councillor Casey, said: “Furthermore, recently emerging increases to general costs of living (including significant food and energy price hikes) only raise the chances of more individuals/households slipping below the poverty line.”

The Simon Community has also noted it is seeing an increase in the number of clients who have lost housing because their job has ended.

It has also been noted, that while the numbers of rough sleepers in the city centre has been considerable lower since the pandemic started, there are new areas where people are sleeping rough.

Councillor Casey, said: “As part of the Safer City Centre work strand, intelligence gathering has identified city centre locations where street begging tends to take place, with sites at Heilanman’s Umbrella, Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Gordon Street.

In addition, rough sleeping sites have also been recognised at St Vincent Street, Berkeley Street, and in Glasgow Green.

“Outwith the immediate city centre, further sites in the west and south of the city have also been identified.”