Tam Hendry: "Opportunity to get off the street"

However, the venture does not have enough money to sustain it beyond March this year and desperately needs further investment.

The charity, Streetwork, said if it could secure more funding it hopes to extend this first such project in the UK to other sites.

Steve Cowley, a DASH worker, told BBC Scotland: "It is certainly good when you consider all the skills, qualifications and training we have done.

"And also all the personal support you get to move on from the streets onto a better life."

Streetwork director, Tam Hendry said: "We have set up this project because we are concerned about the number of young people that are begging on the streets.

'Determination and will'

"We saw this an opportunity for them to get off the street and start to work.

"It makes sense by selling coffee on the street, it is a bit like the Big Issue and it's easy to do."

The hotel next door to the stall - the Sheraton Grand - has been giving the youngsters training and facilities.

Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for work and pensions, said: "The coffee stall will, I'm sure, be a success.

"If it works for them there will be opportunities here at the Sheraton Hotel and other parts of the catering industry.

"It just shows what can be done if you have the determination and the will to see it all through."

The Sheraton Hotel's Peter Murphy added that the project both helped to get youngsters off the street and boosted the hospitality industry.