Thanks to the work by the Community Team, who work closely with our academies on poverty-proofing initiatives, it became clear that access to winter clothing, particularly coats, was hugely important.

Our community team reached out to Coats4kids, a charitable organisation who partner with schools to identify children between the ages of 4-11 whose family circumstances have left them without a winter coat.  

Instead of donating physical items, the charity provides vouchers that are sent to parents, allowing them to choose a new coat for their child that best suits their size, preferences and needs.

All coats provided through Coats4Kids are brand new and discreet, with no visible signs or labels linking them to charitable donations. This helps to safeguard children from any potential stigma or bullying.

Thanks to our successful application, nearly 400 coat vouchers have been generously distributed to pupils across our Greater Manchester, Stoke and Wirral academies.

“Keeping warm in winter is critical for a child's health, wellbeing, education and physical development, so these donations have been amazing,” said Jen Edmondson, Academy Community Pioneer (ACP) at Co-op Academy Broadhurst and Co-op Academy Medlock.

Michelle Stacey, ACP at Co-op Academy Broadhurst, said: “This is an amazing scheme and we are extremely happy to be able to provide some of our pupils with a new coat.
“A warm winter coat can do wonders for a child’s confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to enjoy outdoor play and stay comfortable on their way to and from school.”