Ellie Goulding knocks council’s anti-begging poster campaign
Singer Ellie Goulding has criticised a London council’s hard hitting anti-begging advertising campaign, describing it as a ‘joke’.
Kensington & Chelsea are running a poster campaign advising the public not to hands money to beggars, warning that the money could end up funding drug or alcohol problems.
In a tweet Goulding wrote that she was disappointed in the message sent by the authorities.
Acts of kindness from people in the form of small amounts of change are important to people who are desperate. This campaign is a joke.
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) September 3, 2015
In a blog post council leader Nick Paget-Brown defended the campaign, writing: “If you really want to help someone who is on the streets it is far better to give your money to the right charity.
“There are many excellent organisations that do fantastic work and can help people get their lives back together. Specialist help can be given to work to overcome alcohol and drug addictions, find accommodation and access employment-based training. It’s these organisations that really need your support.”
Brown insists that the council is focussed on finding long-term solutions to the issue.