Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Poverty and Inequalities Team ran seven Free Warm Winter Clothes Events throughout November and December, bringing in over 300 people and giving away over 1200 items of warm winter clothes.
A number of partner organisations attended the events including The Lemon Aid Project, Fire Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and Wheatley Homes to provide additional advice and support to those who need help this winter.
Events were held in Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas, Annan, Lockerbie and Sanquhar and for the second year in a row we opened a pop-up shop in Dumfries High Street which also coincided with the Christmas Light Switch On, when the town was at its busiest.
At each of the events, there was a huge volume of clothes to give away with no qualifying criteria. Items of clothes included: coats and jackets, jumpers and cardigans, hats, gloves, scarves, kids clothing and trousers. Each event also saw free period products available to collect.
There were 100 tins of Heinz soup at each event, which were given away for free to those who wanted them, in an attempt to give everyone a warm meal that evening and to add to their cupboards for any additional meals which would make a difference over the cold winter months ahead.
Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee commented: “These events demonstrate our Council’s on-going commitment to tackling poverty and inequalities throughout our region. Our staff helped a significant number of families and young people to choose as many items as they wished from the huge number of new and pre-loved warm clothes.”
Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of Communities Committee added: “We know that there is a huge rise in the number of people struggling at this time in our communities, and these events have significantly helped families and individuals who are struggling with rising costs. Provision of pre-loved and new warm winter clothes will help them through the cold winter months ahead.”
For more information on where you can get help and advice on a number of topics including help with money and benefits, household bills, finding work, health and wellbeing, as well as support for families, young people, the elderly and disabled please visit our website- that details the support at local, national, and UK level: https://costofliving.dumgal.gov.uk
