Wrap Up London is launching its seventh annual campaign this month and we’re really pleased to help again.  Over the last couple of years, in conjunction with Human Appeal, we have also seen it expand to Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.

‘to date (Wrap Up) has collected 103,000 coats since its launch in 2011. Safestore will also provide storage space in some of it’s London stores to facilitate the sorting, storage and distribution of 24,000 coats to over 100 charities, homeless shelters, vulnerable women and children centres, elderly people in need and refugees’. 
In addition to the coat collections in Tube and train stations in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow from the 12-15th of November 2018 people are welcome to pop into our stores and donate coats anytime during opening times from the 12th to the 23rd of December.
 

Why do we need your coats?

Winter is nearly upon us. The nights are darker for longer and the Met Office predicts that by the end of November we’ll have below average temperatures, overnight frosts and freezing fogs to contend with. Those features of a hard winter may pose an inconvenience to most of us but they can be a killer for people living rough or unable to afford to keep warm.

A coat is a basic piece of winter clothing that most of us take for granted, yet it’s an essential item that many people are missing.

“With so many people homeless on the streets of London, sadly some of the most vulnerable people will not have the luxury of wearing a coat this winter. With this figure only set to rise, we are very passionate about supporting Wrap Up London as they are working so hard to provide comfort and care for those in need. Last year we donated over 20,000 coats to the homeless in London and we hope to donate even more this winter.” Shahid Kadodia, Digital & Marketing Director Safestore

Help for the homeless and vulnerable

There are many reasons why vulnerable people in the UK don’t have a coat - chief among them are homelessness and poverty.

Homelessness in London rises year on year and there has been an alarming rise in the number of people sleeping rough since last year in particular. Many of those people desperately need a way to keep warm this winter and simply can’t afford a winter coat at all, or don’t own one that is waterproof enough to be of any use. 

Other people helped by Wrap Up are men, women and children who have had to flee their homes in a hurry due to violence and haven’t taken winter essentials with them. Elderly people and those who have had difficulties with their benefits are also in real need of a warm coat this winter.
 

How to donate your old coats

You may well have old coats cluttering up your cupboards or wardrobes - maybe they no longer fit, or perhaps you’ve bought a new coat in a more modern style. You may have had to buy new, bigger coats for your children this year and have last year’s coats taking up space in the hallway. 
If you live in the London area, Wrap Up London is appealing for those coats to be donated to their cause at the following Safestore locations in London:

• Safestore Chiswick – Chiswick Lane, 22 Sutton Lane North, Great West Road, W4 4LD
• Safestore Clapham – 4 Timber Mill Way, Gauden Road, SW4 6LY
• Safestore Notting Hill – Camelford Walk, Clarendon Road, W11 1TX
• Safestore King’s Cross – 79-79 Pentonville Road, N1 9LG

If you live in Manchester 

• Safestore Manchester Central, 202-208 Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 8LW
• Safestore Manchester Worsley, Unit 1-2 Hazelhurst Road, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2SQ
• Safestore Manchester Old Trafford, City Park, 34 Brindley Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 9HQ
• Safestore Altrincham, 1-2 Atlantic Street, Altrincham, WA14 5FA
• Safestore Oldham, 189 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL8 4PS
• Safestore Stockport Bryant, Bryant House, 61-63 Wellington Road North, Stockport, SK4 1HS 

Birmingham... 

• Safestore Birmingham South - Unit 4, Clyde Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0NY 

or Glasgow

• Safestore Glasgow Southside, 588 Lawmoor Street, Dixon Blazes, Glasgow, G5 0TY

They’ll be kept in our stores until they’re all distributed, so they’ll be kept dry and clean.

Bring your coats to those Safestore branches any time during normal opening hours from 12th to 23rd November 2018. We guarantee that they’ll go to people who really, really need them this year. If you can’t make it to those collection points, there are other arrangements possible - check out Wrap Up London’s page.

Last year, Safestore helped Wrap Up collect well over 20,000 coats - let’s try and beat that figure this year and help even more vulnerable people across the UK.
 

Over the years:

Keeping London's Homeless Warmer this Winter (2015)
Wrap Up London Returns 2016
Wrap Up London is back! (2017)