COUNCIL bosses are working with retailers to re-launch help for the city's homeless.

The Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) and city council have joined forces on the newly named Alternative Giving Scheme, formerly known as Spare Change for Real Change.

This works by getting the public to donate to a scheme rather than directly to those homeless or sleeping rough in the city and has been running for five years.

Lead member for housing Cllr Caroline Horrill has agreed the re-launch and the council's involvement in helping oversee it and £5,000 has been put aside in the homelessness prevention budget to finance it.

Costs will be shared between the council and Winchester BID.

Donations to the scheme are made through 20 collection boxes places in shops and pubs in the city centre.

They are then shared between homelessness charities the Winchester Churches Nightshelter and the Trinity Centre.

The organisations provide those genuinely rough sleeping with emergency shelter and a place of safety during the day, provide hot meals, access to health care, and try to help people out of rough sleeping.

In its report, the council said there would be a benefit in the council working as a partner on the scheme.

The re-launch will include new signage on the boxes, including the council logo.