The funding, which was secured by Aberdeen Inspired, will be split between Aberdeen Street Pastors and Aberdeen Cyrenians as part of a wide-ranging strategy.

A total of £6,250 will be allocated to Aberdeen Street Pastors for ‘on-street’ interventions through the purchase of additional quantities of sleeping bags, blankets, woolly hats and gloves for vulnerable persons, particularly during colder months of the year.

The other £6,250 will go to Aberdeen Cyrenians to help recruit a part-time worker to potentially offer extended interactions with and opening hours at its Drop-In Centre, which relies heavily on volunteers.

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are delighted to have secured the funding, which, in turn, we have allocated to two great local charities to help them in their work to positively divert people away from street begging in the city centre. We all understand that this is a complex issue and needs a multi-faceted approach, but we are confident the support will allow both Aberdeen Cyrenians and the Street Pastors to build on their sterling efforts to date.”

Kate Loades, Aberdeen Cyrenians fundraising manager, said: “We are very grateful for the funding from Aberdeen Inspired which will support Aberdeen Cyrenians’ work to help people affected by homelessness through specialist advice and practical support. It will help us to address the root causes of homelessness and support people to have more stable and positive futures.”

Adrian Rowett of Aberdeen Street Pastors, added: “Aberdeen Street Pastors is especially grateful to receive this donation from Aberdeen Inspired. We seek to listen to, care for and to help those who might need support or are vulnerable in the night-time economy of Aberdeen City Centre and this funding will support that work.

“As a part of that work, we are keen to continue to help those who are homeless and support the work in the City to find ways of enabling people to find suitable accommodation.”