Southend Bid and Harp teamed up last week to launch a new campaign to encourage more people to take five minutes and speak with rough sleepers.

The ‘Don’t Just Walk By’ scheme is intended to aid the homeless community in the seaside town through residents taking the time to chat or buy food and drink rather than giving them the change in their pockets.

Considering the new campaign, reporter Sam Drury visited some of the homeless community in Southend to see if it is influencing their lives and if it is helping them as they go through every day living on the streets.

Sam met Darren Race, 42 in Southend High Street.

Darren, who calls himself ‘DJ Race’ found cover from the sun beside the Post Office with a spider man mask at his knee and friend Richard Rutter, 42 who was previously homeless but has now gained employment and is off the streets.

Darren used to be a vinyl DJ in his 20s and 30s where he says he owned a huge collection of old school dance music.

He has been homeless since July after he said that his Job Seekers Allowance was cut off.

Since then, Darren has been sleeping on the benches at the Marine Parade and sometimes in Warrior Square.

Speaking about life on the streets, Darren said: “I sleep in the parks now a lot of the time. It is scary out here, and we need money so that we can food, drinks, not alcohol but just something to keep us going.”

Richard was supportive of Darren, saying that there are misconceptions over for what the homeless community use the money they are given.

He said: “People need toiletries, money to get around, they want it for better for themselves. They do not have anything anymore and so having cigarettes or a drink at times is needed for rough sleepers.”

They did agree however that sometimes alcohol is needed to get through the nights.

Richard said: “When you are cold, you need something, it is a must.

“It is not just alcohol. It is the small things that count like food, hot drinks as they are too poor to afford those things most of the time.”

After meeting with Darren, Sam was pointed in the direction of London Road around the corner from High Street.

The road according to Richard and Darren has become a hub for the homeless community, however shelter from the summer heat is hard to come by.

Sam met David Bayley on London Road.

David is 46-years-old and he spent 20-years of his working life as a civil servant.

He however was forced to stop working and four-months ago David stopped receiving benefits.

He has also lost four-stone in weight since February of this year as a result of his life on the streets in Southend.

David said: “I have worked since I was 16, but now things are bad, there are problems in this area and I prefer to be a lot quieter than other people who sleep rough as they cause a detriment to other people on the streets.”

David did not wish to be photographed in the Echo because of his 12-year-old son who lives in Westcliff.

He was concerned that other children may bully his son if they know what had happened to his father.

David spoke about his dislike for rough sleepers who are sometimes forceful with people to give them money.

He said: “We call them ‘spot beggars’, they go up to old ladies or children and actively try to force money out of them.

“I never ask people or anything, if they offer me money or food, I will say ‘thank you brother’ but I would never force them.”

Unlike what most would expect of rough sleepers, David is a keen reader and he likes to spend time at the library.

Beside David was a 500-page chemistry volume which he had rented from the library.

He said: “I have read many books, it is my hobby. I like to go there but I often have to get the books I want ordered in from Chelmsford library or find a way to go there as Southend does not have them.”

David also does a paper round in the early mornings which he gets a small amount of money for however not enough to begin considering moving off the streets.

He hopes that in the future he can return to his former life.