Coats for Kids project helps children keep warm this winter
Community acts of kindness make a difference for children in need this season
As the temperatures drop during January’s cold spell, North Northamptonshire's LIVE Team is on a mission to ensure no child in the local community faces the cold weather without a warm coat.
The Coats for Kids project was set up by LIVE – a specialist team supporting people with learning disabilities. The project started three years ago and has since became a growing community service in North Northamptonshire.
There are various drop-off and collection points around the area for people to donate coats and take what they need off the rails.
The team say the campaign which started as a simple idea – to collect good‑quality, second‑hand coats for those in need – has turned into a lifeline for many households across the county. Andy Bissell, Day Centre Officer at Corby’s LIVE Team, said:
‘’The project was initially set up to ensure that no child goes without,’’
‘’With the rise in child poverty and the lowering of temperatures, we found this to be an important service, that is much needed in the local area.’’
Over the past year alone, Bissell says it has distributed more than 470 coats to the local community thanks to public donations, and he hopes these numbers will increase during the winter season.
The campaign is ongoing throughout the year and collects clothing donations for each season. Bissell added that the success of the project is rooted in the generosity of local people who are often keen to support the teams community‑driven efforts.
To find out more about the Coats for Kids project, including collection locations, visit the LIVE website.