Homeless charities get grants to tackle rough sleeping

In its latest round of funding, the government has shared £3.5m between 21 homelessness projects

Two charities in the west of England have been given funding to bolster their efforts against homelessness.

Taunton Association for the Homeless, in Somerset, has been granted £189,589 and GEAR Projects, in Gloucestershire, will receive £163,618.

Both charities said the money would be used to set up helplines for members of the public to connect rough sleepers with local services.

The money is part of a £3.5m pot shared across 21 projects in England.

It is the latest round of No Second Night Out funding from the government.

The initiative, which aims to get help quickly to anyone who ends up on the streets, was piloted in London last year before being rolled out nationally.