Two parents of secondary school students are helping with the cost-of-living crisis by providing cheap or free school supplies.
Helen Norwood and Angela Barry started the Community Locker last year after discovering the prices of uniforms when both their eldest children were on their way to secondary school.
Due to Covid, and compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, many people are finding it hard to make ends meet.
The Community Locker, which can be found at Breightmet Kings Church on Bury Road every Thursday between 9:30am and 2:30pm, is a way for Helen, a Community Champion at Morrisons Breightmet, and Angela, CEO at Reach Family Project, to help ease the financial burden.
Angela said: “On the back of Covid we wanted to help families who are struggling with costs.
“It was really successful last year, and we wanted to roll it out bigger this year.
“We’ve had lots of people getting in contact already because of the cost-of-living crisis and we’ve not even run it yet. People who wouldn’t normally need it who are feeling the pinch.”
Depending on donations, the Community Locker sells most of what children need at school, including uniforms, shoes, coats, trainers, PE kits, maths sets and calculators, stationary, lunch boxes, water bottles and backpacks.
They are sold for a much lower price than could be found elsewhere.
They also work on a referral basis from agencies such as the NHS and housing associations, in which case the products are often free.
Angela said: “We also give out toiletries and sanitary products and they will always be free.
"We want to make sure that children don’t not go to school because they’re worried about their appearance and hygiene.”
She added: “The majority of donations have come from people, either buying new or donating old items that have been grown out of.
Morrisons Harwood are doing grab bag for people to buy then donate. They’ve been brilliant. We’ve got loads from them.
Last year the pair have been running the initiative on a voluntary basis, but they recently secured funding which means that Helen renumerated for 10 hours a week, meaning she can dedicate more time to it.
To find out more about the Community Locker, visit their Facebook page – Breightmet Community Group.
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