As the country faces further bouts of low temperatures and icy conditions homeless people become more at risk if they are unable to find shelter during these conditions.

Special measures are in place to ensure that people sleeping rough are given shelter overnight, as temperatures drop below freezing in many areas of the UK.

This means that alerting authorities to anyone seen sleeping outside could have an immediate impact and may even save their life during the potentially lethal conditions.

Organisation, Global Citizen, which hopes to end extreme poverty by 2030, provides information on what to do if you see someone sleeping rough in the cold weather.

1. Start a conversation

You could start a conversation. If they want to talk, you could ask their name, their situation, if there’s anything they’d like you to do.

It’s the fastest way to find out what kind of support they might want.

2. Find out if the person needs emergency help

If the person in question is likely to be under 18 or is sleeping rough with a child in their care, this is a matter to refer to the police and social services immediately, as local authorities have a legal obligation to provide shelter to children.

If the person is in need of urgent medical attention, for example if they have an open wound or appear to be seriously ill, calling 999 for an ambulance will get them professional help quickly.

Another immediate concern, especially in cold conditions, is where the person is set to spend the next few hours. Day shelters offering food and clothing and – usually during the winter months – night shelters that offer safe, warm sleeping areas, are in operation in many areas, so Google those running in your area or search via homeless.org.uk.

3. Get professional help

If you are concerned that someone sleeping rough may not have anywhere to go when the temperatures drop, you can reach out to local councils or local charities in Scotland like Shelter who can provide support.

4. Offer them warm clothes or a blanket

Maybe you have an old winter wardrobe, or blankets around the house that you don’t need.

You could round them up and either take them to a charity shop where proceeds go to help people sleeping rough or hit the streets and give them out yourself.

5. Buy a hot drink or food

Before you head into a supermarket or cafe to buy your lunch, you could ask a homeless person if they’d like you to get them something, and what they might like.

6. Pay it forward

Scottish organisation Social Bite operates a pay it forward scheme that helps customers buy food and hot drinks for the country’s homeless population.

The “Suspended Coffee” scheme means you can pay in advance for a coffee or anything from their menu, then a homeless person can go into their shops to claim it.

You can join in the scheme by texting BITE00 £5 to 70070, or by donating to their JustGiving page.