Here’s something to think about next time someone asks you for change on the street: does that £2 help them long-term, or would it do more good in the hands of a local charity actually trying to get them off the streets?
That’s the thinking behind a new campaign in East Lancashire that’s gently (okay, not-so-gently) nudging people to donate to local charities instead of giving money directly to people begging. It’s called Change for Change because your kindness should actually, well… change something.
According to people who work in the thick of it, like Liz Crook from Rummage Rescuers, giving cash on the street doesn’t always help the way you think. She’s come across people who see begging as a job literally. Not everyone on the pavement is down and out; some are out to get as much money as possible, with zero intention of getting support.
And the money? It doesn’t always go on food or bus fare. “You don’t know where it’s going,” Crook says. “It could be booze, it could be drugs.” And that’s the honest truth giving directly might make you feel good, but it could actually be feeding a dangerous cycle.
Instead, the campaign brings together seven frontline charities doing proper, hard work in the area: Community CVS, THOMAS, Nightsafe, Blackburn Foodbank, Red Rose Recovery, Rummage Rescuers, and the Salvation Army. They offer everything from emergency housing and addiction support to food parcels and mental health care.
And let’s not ignore what’s already happening. Blackburn with Darwen Council is backing housing pods in places like Shadsworth for rough sleepers who’ve been through it, and they’re working with hostels offering emergency beds. There’s a system in place. It just needs proper support.
People on the ground already get it. Some locals say they’ve stopped giving money altogether. Instead, they’ll grab someone a hot drink or a sandwich. Others say they’re happy to help if it’s someone clearly in need but they want their kindness to go further.
And that’s really the heart of it. Most people do want to help. We’re not heartless. But it’s about helping in a way that actually supports change, not just another hit or another day out in the cold.
So, next time you feel the urge to drop a few coins into a cup, maybe think about giving that fiver to one of the organisations actually doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. Because making a real difference doesn’t always start with spare change it starts with making smarter choices.
