For the second year running people in Swindon have stepped up to help ensure the homeless are kept warm this winter.

Threshold Housing Link received a donation of 57 coats from T0G24 as part of this year's Swap-a Coat scheme, to assist the charity with its work helping the homeless on Swindon’s streets.

Throughout October the campaign saw people donate coats at TOG24’s Outlet store in exchange for 15 per cent off a new coat.

Donna Emms, area supervisor of TOG24, who came up with the campaign last year said: “It was fantastic this year. Over the last two weeks of the campaign the jackets really started to come in. We were getting people bringing them in because they saw it advertised and just wanted to make a donation.

“We had a lovely lady who actually knitted a bunch of bobble hats and brought them in to donate. It wasn’t just jackets, people were bringing in fleeces and other under layers – everything,” she added.

The store handed over 5 boxes of clothing to Threshold earlier this month.

Michael Keenan Threshold’s chief development officer said: “We were of course thrilled to partner again with TOG24 this year. As the weather becomes colder and wetter the demand on the essential and emergency services our charity provides rough sleepers simply increases in urgency.

Through this fantastic national initiative, charities supported by TOG24 can now more effectively warm those homeless individuals that are cold, sleeping rough and in desperate need.

Nationally TOG24 collected in excess of 1000 coats which were distributed to homeless charities local to each store.

Michael added: “TOG24’s Swap A Coat campaign has most certainly been great for our service users and incredibly helpful for us as a charity during the pandemic as they safely managed quarantining and packing the coats.”

Donna said: “I want to say a sincere thank you to all our lovely customers that took part, donated and spread the word.

"I look forward to making it an even more successful 3rd year next year,” she added.