A number of West Leeds community facilities are distributing free good-quality warm second-hand winter coats to people who need them.
The Leeds Winter Coat Appeal has so far collected 3,428 coats this winter to help children and adults stay warm and reduce waste by encouraging people to share the coats they no longer use rather than throwing them away.
The appeal is building on a campaign run last winter by Zero Waste Leeds, where they redistributed 500 good quality second-hand coats to children across Leeds for free.
Families can go and help themselves to the coats they need for free at the following points in West Leeds:
- Armley Community Hub, Stocks Hill
- Bramley Community Hub, Hough Lane
- Pudsey Community Project, Fartown
- Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (KVDT), St Stephen’s Church Hall
- New Wortley Community Centre, Tong Road
A full map of venues across the city and their opening times can be found here.
Gill Coupland, Co-director of Zero Waste Leeds, said: “It’s very clear that lots of families are struggling financially this year and that the cost of a warm winter coat will be out of reach. At the same time, many of us have the odd coat in the back of the wardrobe that we haven’t worn for a while or ones that our children have grown out of.
“Leeds Winter Coat Appeal aims to unlock all those coats so that they can keep someone else warm this winter and keep much needed money in family budgets for other essentials.
“Leeds is a very generous city, we’re really good at sharing our resources – by passing winter coats on we’re being kind to each other and the environment. Thank you to everyone involved – we know that with your support and donations, we can make a real difference this winter.”
New Wortley Community Centre’s Victoria Kortekaas posted on Facebook: “Over the next few weeks New Wortley Community Centre will be a distribution centre for donated coats free to collect. There are a range of mens, women’s and children’s coats available. Just come into the centre to collect a coat. All that NWCC ask is that you only take what you need and leave some for others.”
The appeal is being run in conjunction with Leeds City Council.
