Peterborough councillors support local initiative donating coats to children in need

A group of Peterborough councillors have purchased 33 coats for local initiative ‘Coats for Kids’ to give away to those in need across the city.
Labour councillors Aasiyah Joseph, Ikra Yasin and Shaz Nawaz with coats to be donated to 'Coats for Kids'Labour councillors Aasiyah Joseph, Ikra Yasin and Shaz Nawaz with coats to be donated to 'Coats for Kids'
Labour councillors Aasiyah Joseph, Ikra Yasin and Shaz Nawaz with coats to be donated to 'Coats for Kids'

The scheme was started by Jane Hale, from Woodston, just before Christmas last year after she noticed many children walking to school without the benefit of a winter coat and having heard about a similar scheme in Nottingham.

After deciding she wanted to help out, herself and a group of friends set up the group on Facebook and in the first few months alone, were able to arrange for coats to be donated to over 150 children in Peterborough.

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The group now has over 800 members, with drop off points for donations right across the city, even including: Deeping St James, Walton, Whittlesey and Spalding.

Organisers hope to not only provide much needed winter wear but to bring people together and meet new people over a common cause.

Jane said: “I help because I’m in a fortunate position that I can. I am aware that people may have two or three children who grow out of clothes so quickly.

“I am self-employed, so this is my way of doing something for the community.”

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At the time, Labour Councillor for Park Ward Aasiyah Joseph heard about the project and donated coats, hats and gloves. This year, she asked if her fellow Park Ward Labour councillors, Shaz Nawaz and Ikra Yasin, would like to support the cause. They both agreed to do so and 33 coats were brought and donated to the project.

Councillor Joseph said: “Many families face difficult financial decisions every day. Here in Peterborough we have a low wage economy, many families working for minimum wage and with zero hours contracts.

“For many the switch from Working Tax & Family Credit has meant a reduction in the assistance they get leaving them with an even harder struggle to make ends meet.

“A lack of investment in social and affordable housing means that they are forced to pay higher private rents leaving little money left for food and clothes. Many working families are reliant upon food banks and projects like this just to provide the very bare necessities for their families.”

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If anyone wishes to support Coats for Kids- Peterborough, they can find their nearest drop off on their Facebook page, click here.

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