The Government today launched a national initiative to discourage people from giving money to beggars.

Ministers Mo Mowlam and Hilary Armstrong launched the Change A Life strategy, along with Government homelessness tsar Louis Casey.

Change A Life aims to encourage people to help the homeless and others on the street by giving gifts or donating to charity instead of handing beggars cash.

It says the money should go to charities Centrepoint, Crisis, the National Homeless Alliance and the Salvation Army, or to local projects.

The launch follows research claiming that 86 per cent of beggars are addicted to drugs.

The Argus highlighted the issue six weeks ago following a police survey claiming that at least a third of Brighton's beggars were heroin addicts.

Ms Casey said: "I'm really pleased with all the Argus has done so far and I am also delighted that it has agreed to sponsor an alternative giving scheme, which will give great help to local charities working with the homeless.

"The more the Argus can do to change a life, the better."

Ms Casey, the former deputy director of homelessness charity Shelter, said: "The public want to help. We make the giving of that help as easy as possible."

Ms Armstrong said research had shown there was an overwhelming amount of public goodwill towards people on the streets.

She said: "We want to think about how we use that goodwill in the most effective way to enable people to move away from the streets and build their lives."

Ms Mowlam said the Change A Life initiative would work if the Government and media could persuade communities to buy into it.

She said: "If you want to give, please give - but if you want to give in a way that will help people begging on the streets to improve their lives, think again about how you give."

Ms Casey said a few weeks ago she came across a young woman lying unconscious and incapable in The Strand in London.

She found out the woman had just been given a £20 note by a passer-by.

Ms Casey said: "With this and the £40 she had already collected that day she stuck it all in her arm and overdosed.

"Dealers prey on vulnerable people on the streets and if they are not already on drugs when they go on the streets they certainly are going to be. These are complex issues requiring complex solutions."

The initiative, worth £1.4 million, will fund schemes around the country helping homeless people get better access to benefits and to secure and safe accommodation.

It will also fund detox facilities for drug addicts and alcoholics.

Brighton was given just under £500,000 to help fund initiatives for the homeless this summer.

People who want to help can call Change A Life on 0845 6061623 or look at the web site www.changealife.org.uk.

The study on drug use among beggars was undertaken in five towns and cities, including Brighton.

The researchers found that 59 per cent of beggars made more then £50 per day and 12 per cent made more than £50.

Sixty-nine per cent of people begging said they were getting benefits.

Only a quarter of those interviewed reported no other source of income.