School clothing bank

More than 1,800 items of donated school clothing were handed out by a Forfar church in just one week in July.

Volunteers at the project at Forfar: St Margaret’s Parish Church said the demand showed the cost of living crisis was hitting hard for families in the area.

Established in 2015, the pop-up shop would usually see about 1,000 donated items – new and second-hand – given away during the week or fortnight it was open. This year 933 items were given out by the end of the first day.

The initiative operates twice in the summer holidays as well as in January, Easter, and October.

The Rev Maggie Hunt, minister at St Margaret’s Parish Church, started the initiative in the summer of 2015 and estimates it has given away at least 7000 items of clothing since it was set up. The congregation has a team of volunteers who launder, iron, and label any second-hand donations.

“It is a community project that not only helps families financially but also reduces the amount of good quality clothing from going to landfill, making it good for the environment too,” said Maggie.