Clothing bank faces closure as donations fall

3 hours ago

Ushma Mistry,in Coventryand

Alec Blackman,West Midlands

News image — Clothing Coventry opened five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic, to initially help families fleeing domestic violence

BBC A man and three women are working to sort clothes set out of two wooden tables in a warehouse. — Clothing Coventry opened five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic, to initially help families fleeing domestic violence

A charity that gives free clothing to families and vulnerable people has said it faces closure unless it can bring in more money.

Clothing Coventry has been operating since 2020, but a drop in donations and the cost of rent and overheads, means it needs £50,000 a year to keep the doors open.

Katie Wilson, who founded the clothing bank, said unless the financial situation changed, they would close by the end of 2026.

"We would love for more people to come forward, willing to donate £5 a month. We currently have 12 amazing people donating £5 a month and I love each one of them, but it's not enough," she said.

Mohammed is one of those who turned to the charity for help, after he arrived in the UK in January from West Africa.

"Me, I choose a coat, pants [trousers], shirt and T-shirt for myself. I'm really happy for that and I can recommend [the charity] to everyone who really needs clothing. I really appreciate their services."

Mohammed is wearing a black hoodie over a pink-and black spotted sports top, with a white collar. He is standing outside the Clothing Coventry warehouse and smiling at the camera. — Mohammed arrived in the UK from West Africa in January and turned to Clothing Coventry for help

Clothing Coventry's work is also appreciated by other charities around Coventry.

Liza Colledge is a support worker at Her Safe Network, which supports victims of domestic abuse.

"We had a client who was beaten so severely they were hospitalised. When they came to us they had no clothing at all. We contacted Clothing Coventry and they helped straight away.

"The dignity they restore to someone at the very worst moment of their life is irreplaceable."

Katie Wilson is wearing a blue hooded jacked and standing in front of two racks of clothing at the Clothing Coventry warehouse. She has a pair of black-framed glasses and has short blonde hair. — Katie Wilson set up Clothing Coventry in 2020

Clothing Coventry is based in two buildings owned by Coventry City Council, but Wilson said they paid full rent on the properties.

"We don't get any reduction on rents. We have to pay full rents and then you've got business rates, the insurance, all those sort of things." she said.

Wilson said they got £60 a week in financial donations from supporters who gave them £5 every week, but more was needed, especially when emergencies happened.

"Last year our heater broke. We had to pay £6,000 for a new system because our volunteers can't work in the cold, sorting all the clothes. And these sort of unexpected costs have really set the charity back."

Wilson said it was not just those struggling with the cost of living who turn to them, in some cases, it was the statutory authorities.

"The police arrived at our door saying they had a young man in absolute desperate need. He was 16 years old and had no clothes at all.

"And those situations are happening more and more, where social services, the police are coming to our door saying: 'Can you help?'

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.