Birmingham Uniform Charity Running Out of Coats and Shoes as Winter Demand Surges
Simply School Supplies says families are now asking for “basic necessities” as stock runs dry.
A Birmingham charity that provides free school uniform and clothing says it is struggling to keep up with demand as families urgently request warm coats and shoes this winter.
Simply School Supplies, which supports families across the city, says requests remain as high as they were earlier in the year, but what parents need has changed.
Elizabeth Dorsey from the charity said “We are seeing a demand at the same level as in the summer. The only difference is rather than wanting branded uniform, they're now wanting coats and shoes, basic necessities. And that is scary.”
The charity has a backlog of requests it is struggling to fill, “We have got over 20 orders just sat. We're trying to gather the stuff in to be able to fill the need for coats and shoes and we are entering into the coldest season.”
Much of its stock has already been given out, “Every single coat we had in stock has gone. Most closed pair of shoes that we've had are gone. We have officially only got one pair of trousers left in stock.”
The situation in Birmingham reflects a wider picture across the UK. New research from Barnardo’s suggests around 300,000 children may be facing winter without a proper coat, as rising costs leave many parents unable to afford essentials.
The charity says around 15% of parents reported they are struggling to buy warm clothing for their children, and frontline workers are increasingly seeing families go without basics.
Barnardo’s is urging people to donate unwanted children’s coats to their local shop — and Birmingham charities like Simply School Supplies say the need is just as urgent here.