Charity worker from Essex warns of 'Winter coat emergency'
New research found 150,000 children could go cold this Winter
A major new campaign has been launched by national parent charity, Parentkind, to make sure that every child has a warm coat this Winter, as research from the charity suggests that 150,000 are growing up in homes where the parents can't afford to give them a warm winter coat.
The 'No Cold Child' campaign is calling on big name retailers to give away unsold winter coats by November.
Parentkind is aiming to hand out 150,000 coats by Christmas when children go back to school and has written to the CEOs of other high street giants asking them to back the campaign and hit their target.
Parentkind, who has launched the campaign, is one of the largest federated charities in Britain working with over 13,000 Parent Teacher Associations nationwide.
CEO, Jason Elson, says it's in response to growing levels of poverty: "no child should walk to school in the cold without a warm jacket."
The charity has teamed up with lifestyle clothing brand FatFace, who are providing 10,000 winter coats to PTA groups at a cost of around £10 each - less than 20% of the recommended retail price.
The retailer is the first to back the 'No Cold Child' campaign with the expectation that other high street retailers will help plug the gap to ensure no child goes without a winter coat by September.
The charity's director of policy, Frank Young, is from Saffron Waldon.
He told us, "our research shows 150,000 children are growing up in homes where parents struggle to buy them a warm winter coat."
"This is just another awful example of our cost-of-living crisis and as the days get colder presents a real emergency for the families involve
CEO of FatFace, Will Crumbie, said: "The figures showing the number of children going without a warm coat this winter are so sad to read - no child should know what it feels like to go to school feeling cold. When we heard of Parentkind's plight, we immediately wanted to help and support the ambition that no child goes without a warm coat this winter."