Charities for rough sleepers in the West Country to receive funds to help them during coronavirus pandemic

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Charities in the West Country have been given more than £700,000 between them in order to continue their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

16 charities have been chosen, all of which work to give support to rough sleepers across the West Country.

The charities will use the money to continue to support rough sleepers during a difficult time.

Each varies in the support they offer, from providing beds for those who need it to offering physical and mental health support.

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The sum is part of £6 million given by the government to 132 charities across England, announced by Homelessness Minister Luke Hall on 7 June 2020.

Many charities have faced financial crisis during the coronavirus pandemic, since lockdown has meant less opportunity for fundraising and the closure of charity shops.

The latest official statistics, released earlier this year, showed homelessness to be on the rise in the West Country, despite falling elsewhere.

The West Country was the only region in England to see a notable increase in the estimated number of people sleeping rough on the streets, rising by 7%.

Bristol was shown to be the third worst area for homelessness in the country.

There was an improvement in Cornwall, however, where the number of homeless people counted had more than halved from 53 to to 24.

The charities in the West Country will receive £705,143 between them.

The charities - with the portion they'll be receiving - are:

• Caring in Bristol - £63,000 - Bristol City Council

• Hope at Home - £10,000 - Bristol

• inHope - £39,463 - Bristol

• Hope Housing Training and Support Ltd - £29,000 - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

• YMCA Cornwall - £10,000 - Cornwall Council

• Harbour Housing (Cosgarne Hall Ltd); £72,281 - Cornwall

• St Petrocs; £78,640 - Cornwall

• Cirencester Housing for Young People - £26,000 - Cotswold District Council

• Gloucester City Mission - £15,000 - Gloucestershire

• Freedom Community Alliance - £25,000 - North Devon Council

• Encompass Southwest - £18,000 - North Devon and Torridge

• Elim Connect - £40,000 - Mendip District Council

• PATH (Plymouth Access To Housing) Limited - £81,010 - Plymouth City Council

• The Amber Foundation - £80,520 - Wiltshire, Devon

• Westfield United Reformed Church - £17,229 - Sedgemoor District Council

• Arc - £100,000 - Somerset West and Taunton