We’re proud to have supported Kids Clothes Project with a £2,000 award from our Community Impact Fund to help provide essential clothing for children across the Black Country.
Kids Clothes Project is a Brierley Hill-based charity providing free, high-quality, preloved clothing parcels to children aged two to 12 from low-income families.
The charity works with schools, health professionals and frontline services who refer children experiencing hardship due to poverty, illness, disability, domestic violence or housing instability.
Each parcel is tailored to the individual child and includes seasonal clothing, footwear, toys and books, helping children feel comfortable, dignified and included in school and everyday life.
Our funding will help to purchase essential items when donations don’t meet demand, including coats, school shoes, underwear and sensory-friendly or adaptive clothing for children with additional needs.
Since launching six years ago, the project has supported more than 2,200 children across the Black Country, where there is a high volume of GSA homes. Families who have already received parcels reported that their children’s confidence and wellbeing have improved, and their stress has reduced.
Demand is continuing to rise as more families face financial pressures due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Katie Ashby, Founder and Project Lead at Kids Clothes Project, said:
“I created Kids Clothes Project after experiencing poverty myself and understanding first-hand how it feels. While food banks were fairly accessible, there was nothing locally to help children needing clothing. I wanted to make sure no child feels left out because their family can’t afford it.
“This funding will help us continue to respond to growing demand and ensure children receive the essentials they need to feel warm, confident and supported, especially during difficult times. This dignity helps them to thrive in social settings and reduces school absence, setting them up for success in their futures.”
The grant follows a successful application to our Community Impact Fund, which is made possible thanks to generous social value donations from some of our suppliers.
Grants of up to £2,000 per year are available to resident groups, community projects and charities, with a focus on improving health and wellbeing, the environment, or life and employment skills.