Over 1,000 vulnerable people supported via clothing scheme

Over a thousand people supported through community wardrobe scheme as cost of living crisis continues

Our clothing scheme in Blackpool has supported more than one thousand vulnerable residents as the cost of living crisis rages on.

The Community Wardrobe, run by our corps in Blackpool, located on Raikes Parade, reached the milestone figure last month as communities around the country continue to grapple with the pressures of the rising cost of living.

In total, our corps has helped 1,672 people in the past year who have come to the Community Wardrobe via referrals through either the onsite homeless scheme, the Bridge Project, or through the UK’s refugee and asylum seeker programme, as well as some self-referrals from within the community.

The scheme, which is able to run weekly thanks to a team of volunteers, aims to reduce clothing waste by recycling and redistributing items in good condition to those in need and struggling to clothe themselves. Clients have included families in crisis, homeless people from Blackpool and refugee and asylum seekers.  

Captain Naomi Clifton, church leader of The Salvation Army in Blackpool, said: “This milestone figure is indicative of the times that we are all living in and it is no shock that, as the cost of living continues to soar, people are finding themselves in times of crisis.

“Our service provides a level of dignity, we give people a choice, we let them come in and choose for themselves what suits them. All our clients, no matter their background, have been through an immense amount of trauma in their lives and one of the basic human needs is clothing so anything that we can do to help their situation we will.

“The project is twofold, whilst providing people with a much-needed service it also reduces clothing waste; we take in pre-loved items in good condition to stop them from going into landfill, caring for creation and loving our neighbour.”

The Community Wardrobe runs on donations of good quality clothing and helps children as well as adults. Donations of used underwear and socks are not accepted but any financial donations to the Community Wardrobe go on purchasing new underwear and socks for those who need them.

If you are local to Blackpool, donations of unused underwear and socks in unopened packaging are also accepted and warm clothes, including winter coats for all ages but specifically children, are in urgent need as the cold weather and winter months approach.

If you want to support The Salvation Army Blackpool’s Community Wardrobe, donations can be made to www.justgiving.com/the-salvation-army-blackpool and while all donations are welcome, people are encouraged to donate only what they can afford.