Two Aberdeen charities are sharing £12,500 to tackle street begging and homelessness in the city.
The government funding will be split between the Street Pastors and Cyrenians.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, which secured the grants, claimed this was the city’s businesses “showing their heart”.
Aberdeen Street Pastors will use the money to buy supplies for its interventions with people on the street.
The £6,250 grant should cover the cost of a year’s worth of sleeping bags, blankets, ponchos, flip flops, woolly hats and gloves which the charity’s volunteers hand out to the vulnerable.
Adrian Rowett of Aberdeen Street Pastors, said: “We seek to listen to, care for and to help those who might need support or are vulnerable in Aberdeen city centre and this funding will support that work.
“Regardless of what we would like to achieve, I think homelessness will always be an issue in Aberdeen – but the real test is how the city handles that.
“The fact different organisations in the city can work so well together is a real credit to Aberdeen.”
The other £6,250 will be used by Aberdeen Cyrenians to help recruit a part-time worker to allow fuller interaction with vulnerable people and extend opening hours at its drop-in centre.
Fundraising manager Kate Loades said: “This funding will support our work to help people affected by homelessness through specialist advice and practical support.
“It will help us to address the root causes and support people to have more stable and positive futures.”
Mr Watson said the funding effort showed the business community had a conscience.
He added: “It is easy to arrive at a stereotype about why businesses are doing this, but when you speak to them, there is a great deal of sympathy and empathy.
“We hope this brings a reduction in street begging because that is people being exposed at their most vulnerable.
“It would be fantastic if we had no homelessness and street begging in Aberdeen – a major UK city in the 21st century – and these two organisations are doing their very best to reduce it.”
