Great Places has donated £3,500 to a Bolton-based project that serves as a hub for struggling families to buy school essentials for their children without breaking the bank.
The community shop offers reduced or free school supplies, items sold include most of what children need at school, including uniforms, shoes, coats, trainers, PE kits, maths sets and calculators, stationery, lunch boxes, water bottles and backpacks.
The Community Locker in Breightmet is run by two mums. They started the group when the cost-of-living crisis began to grow.
This service ensures that families most in need receive the support free of charge and any self-referrals can access the items at minimal cost. For example, a full pre-loved uniform including shoes, coat and socks can be purchased for under £3. It will help to alleviate some of the pressure and ensure children can attend school feeling comfortable, clean and confident with the items they have.
Great Places’ Community Partnership Manager Leanne Keane said:
Great Places is committed to investing in our communities and helping our customers to live well. With more of our customers affected by the cost-of-living crisis, we launched our Resilience Fund, which was set up to support community-based initiatives that were helping people take control of their household finances.
The Community Locker is the perfect example of this, and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to work with them to support our customers and the wider community. The shop is a welcoming place and gives customers much-needed choices in what they can purchase with everything they could need for school. I would love to see this replicated in every area.
This service is available to any of our customers living in Bolton and the shop is open on Thursdays from 9.30-11.30am for customers to visit and purchase low-cost items at The Mill, Bury New Rd, Radcliffe, Bolton BL2 6QE.
You can also request an evening appointment:
Alternatively, your Neighbourhood Services Manager can make a referral on your behalf.
