HOMELESS people in Salisbury can now get help to make living rough more bearable thanks to an innovative safety scheme launched in the city.

The street survival bag project, launched by Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, was piloted in Trowbridge last year and proved so successful that it has now been extended to Salisbury.

Representatives from the fire service provided a number of street survival bags to the Alabaré drop-in centre at The Friary Community Centre for the launch last week and they will now be distributed to those who most need the help.

Doreen Knight, Alabaré’s drop-in centre team leader, said: “We are so pleased that this fantastic initiative has been extended into Salisbury. Our clients are amongst the most vulnerable in society, so having Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service develop something that is specifically targeting their safety is most welcome.”

The bags, which are waterproof backpacks with a reflective patch on them, contain items such as a tin for cigarette ends, a wind-up lantern, personal hygiene items, basic utensils, a first aid kit, survival blanket, sleeping bag and a smoke detector.

Martyn Jones, case manager for the Salisbury area, said: “We know from the pilot scheme that these bags can make a real difference to someone living rough. We have worked with Alabaré’s clients to make sure that what we provide is what they need, for example, the smoke detector was included after this research. Our aim is to reduce the risk of fire and, therefore, reduce the risk to life.”

The fire service hopes the new initiative will also provide vital information on where people are sleeping rough.

Mr Jones said: “If we know that a derelict building is used by the homeless, we will know that people could be trapped if a fire is reported. Having that extra intelligence could mean the difference between life and death for someone.”