A scheme encouraging people to donate money to charities for the homeless, rather than giving directly to beggars, will be launched in Brighton.

Collection boxes bearing the words "Begging for Change" will initially be placed in 16 shops and cafes in the town centre.

We are sponsoring te alternative giving scheme following our successful Don't Give to Beggars campaign which won praise from the Government's homeless tsar Louise Casey.

The campaign followed police evidence showing that at least a third of street beggars in the town spent the money they collected on heroin.

The new scheme will provide funding for three Brighton-based charities to help the homeless to overcome their problems.

No administration fee will be charged, meaning all the money raised will go directly to St Patrick's Trust, which provides hostel and emergency accommodation and a five-bed detoxification unit, Equinox day centre for street drinkers and Aspire, which provides full time employment for the homeless.

Leaflets and posters promoting the scheme read: "Begging for Change supports the solution, not the habit. If you give to people on the streets directly you are in danger of just helping them to buy drugs and alcohol. But give to Begging for Change and your money will go directly to helping them off the streets and into a new life."

The steering group behind the scheme, which includes Brighton's homeless tsar Helen Keats and the chief executive of The Place to Be, Simon Fanshawe, believes the amount of money raised is less important than getting the message across.

Mr Fanshawe said: "We are trying to encourage people to give money and give an alternative to people. People want to give money but they may be unwilling to give to people on the streets.

"People do not want to keep others on the streets and they think giving directly to them will do just that. They want their compassion to be effective."

At the launch of the Government's national Change a Life campaign this month, which aims to discourage people giving directly to beggars and instead support charities, Ms Casey said: "I am really pleased with all The Argus has done so far and I am also delighted it has agreed to sponsor the alternative giving scheme."

The scheme has also been backed by the Lanes traders, the North Laine traders, the Town Centre Business Forum, the St James's Street Area Action Group, the Kemp Town Business Association, The Place to Be, Brighton and Hove Council, Brighton police and Hove police.