Cash for Kids Coat Appeal for 2023 has now officially closed but the charity needs one final push to be able to support the 3,176 applicants they have received this year.
The charity have been working hard since August to fundraise for the Coat Appeal with numbers expected to rise year on year. This year the charity have seen an overwhelming amount of applications and were forced to close this campaign early due to funding limitations.
Jamie Smith, Charity Manager said “This year we have seen a large number of applications over a short period of time. We had to take the decision midway through the campaign to pause our application process while we sourced the funding to be able to continue. With applications now officially closed we have 3,176 children that need winter clothing and we are currently £30,000 short of achieving this requirement – meaning around 600 of those applications may not be fulfilled. This year we are seeing the effects of the cost of living crisis and the pandemic with a significant rise in requests for support. We have been fundraising harder, working to source funds and have achieved this vs each year but the request for help has outweighed the funds we have sourced."
Applications for the Coat Appeal are submitted by professionals working with the families, such as Health Visitors, Doctors, Teachers, or Social Workers, proving the need in the region is very real. Many families in the North East of Scotland struggle to afford suitable warm winter clothing for their children. These families, often working but on low incomes, are forced to prioritise between putting food on the table or heating the home during the winter months. As a result, purchasing winter jackets and suitable shoes becomes a financial crisis for these families.
To combat this issue, Cash for Kids has launched a fundraising appeal to provide £50 Primark vouchers to children who lack warm winter clothes. The vouchers enable the children to purchase their own winter clothing, giving them the opportunity to experience having brand new clothes for the first time. Additionally, some of the supported groups use this as a learning experience, teaching children to budget and calculate their expenses.
To support the Coat Appeal and help children across North East Scotland stay warm this winter, donations can be made through the organization's website at Help children across North East Scotland stay warm this winter | Events - Northsound 1 (planetradio.co.uk). Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant impact on the lives of these children and young people.