Hillfields charity that helped over 6,000 people in clothing poverty in 2024

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Clothing Coventry helps people who can't afford clothing items with donations of shoes and clothes



A Coventry charity that helps people in the city in clothing poverty has revealed it supported over 6,800 people in 2024. Clothing Coventry, based on Napier Street in Hillfields, helps people who need second-hand clothes and shoes donations.

The clothing bank provides clothing parcels to those in need through community clothing rails and custom clothing parcels, supporting 300 to 400 people monthly. They supply more than 150 parcels a month and also conduct school uniform projects, prom banks, toiletries, and Christmas gifts to families in Coventry who can't afford them.

The clothing parcels come from referrals from health visitors, women's aid, homeless charities, food banks, plus self-referrals. The team revealed on Facebook that 3,496 school uniforms were distributed, and 12,405 items were taken from their free community rails. In total, they helped 4,627 children and 6,845 people with clothing in 2024.

The Coventry Clothing team says they will 'never judge or discriminate' anyone who needs help, and for 2025, they will still be offering free clothes, shoes, and school uniforms for anyone in Coventry who needs them.

In a statement on Facebook, the team said: "Thank you to everyone who donates clothes and shoes to us. With your help, we supported 6845 people who requested clothes in 2024. Because of your donations, 4627 children have warm, dry clothes that fit them, and 3496 children went to school in the right uniform so they could stand proud alongside their peers.

"488 homeless people kept warm this winter because you sent us socks and pants from our Amazon wishlist or donated your coats and shoes. Thank you to our 72 registered volunteers who came in all weather to receive, sort, and distribute donations.

"Thank you for sharing our posts, sending us care parcels, telling others about us, and being there for us in every way in 2024."

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Clothing bank faces closure as donations fall



A charity that gives free clothing to families and vulnerable people has said it faces closure unless it can bring in more money.

Clothing Coventry has been operating since 2020, but a drop in donations and the cost of rent and overheads, means it needs £50,000 a year to keep the doors open.

Katie Wilson, who founded the clothing bank, said unless the financial situation changed, they would close by the end of 2026.

"We would love for more people to come forward, willing to donate £5 a month. We currently have 12 amazing people donating £5 a month and I love each one of them, but it's not enough," she said.

Clothing Coventry's work is also appreciated by other charities around Coventry.

Liza Colledge is a support worker at Her Safe Network, which supports victims of domestic abuse.

"We had a client who was beaten so severely they were hospitalised. When they came to us they had no clothing at all. We contacted Clothing Coventry and they helped straight away.

"The dignity they restore to someone at the very worst moment of their life is irreplaceable."

Clothing Coventry is based in two buildings owned by Coventry City Council, but Wilson said they paid full rent on the properties.

"We don't get any reduction on rents. We have to pay full rents and then you've got business rates, the insurance, all those sort of things." she said.

Wilson said they got £60 a week in financial donations from supporters who gave them £5 every week, but more was needed, especially when emergencies happened.

"Last year our heater broke. We had to pay £6,000 for a new system because our volunteers can't work in the cold, sorting all the clothes. And these sort of unexpected costs have really set the charity back."

Wilson said it was not just those struggling with the cost of living who turn to them, in some cases, it was the statutory authorities.

"The police arrived at our door saying they had a young man in absolute desperate need. He was 16 years old and had no clothes at all.

"And those situations are happening more and more, where social services, the police are coming to our door saying: 'Can you help?'