A NEW clothes bank has been launched at Warrington with the aim of providing good, second hand clothing for older and vulnerable people in financial hardship.
The Warrington Clothes Bank project – based at the Orford Community Hub – is a joint initiative involving the borough council, Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and the Orford Neighbourhood Project (TONP).
It is staffed by volunteers from Warrington Borough Council’s Supported Employment Service.
Start-up funding was provided by the National Lottery.
Older/vulnerable people will be able to access the project via one of the projects referral agencies, including GGHT, the borough council, the YMCA, Age UK and Access to Social Care.
Once a partner agency identifies an older/vulnerable adult they can request clothing via a voucher system. This will then be processed by the project and a clothing bundle will be prepared and passed to the older/vulnerable adult via the referring agency.
GGHT chairman Roy Smith said: “We recognise the difficulties faced by many of our residents on a daily basis caused by rising costs, static income, high unemployment and changes to benefits.
“Thanks to the effort of all of those involved with the Warrington Clothes Bank Project we will be able to help support some of our most vulnerable residents by providing them with clothes when they need them most. The project will also help us to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill each year.”
Any donations of new or nearly new second hand clothing can be dropped off at the Orford Community Hub on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 1pm and 3pm. Residents who would like to get involved as a volunteer can contact TONP at tonp@btconnect.com or 01925 241 360.
