HELPING TO KEEP THOUSANDS WARM THIS WINTER

Wrap Up London is Hands On London's annual coat collection campaign. Every November, the campaign brings together hundreds of Londoners willing to give a few hours of their time to receive coats as they are donated, sort them and help with their distribution to homeless, elderly and refugee charities across the city. Last November, over 1,200 people gave their time to collect over 33,000 warm coats and distribute them to over 100 charities.

Now entering its 10th Year, Wrap Up London has become one of the largest winter volunteering events in the city and a true celebration of just what can be achieved when people are willing to give their time.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, but for the most vulnerable in our society, the impact has been almost unimaginable. Lockdown, furlough and businesses failing have put many more into crisis. Homelessness is increasing and the number of people forced on to the street is rising. The demand for warm coats this winter is the highest we have ever experienced.

Despite the pandemic and lockdown, Wrap Up London is a 'must have' collection that many people depend upon. We have planned to run during lockdown to get the 30,000+ coats needed this winter. We have planned COVID safe collections and distribution with our volunteers to ensure that we can meet this year's needs, but this year it will be trickier. With hundreds of micro collections across the city instead of a few large ones, the extra requirements of working within safe guidelines have created some enormous challenges, but our volunteers are doing their best to make it happen.

Not everyone has a spare coat, and we get many people asking how else they can help.

Every donated £1 to Wrap Up London goes directly to ensuring warm coats are collected and delivered and volunteers are safely supported to undertake this. The money is used to help pay for costs associated with collection and delivery, Covid-19 protection for the volunteers and ensuring that the 100+ beneficiary organisations can receive their coats in a timely manner .

The money raised will not go to 'back office' costs. Every penny received will be used to increase our capacity to collect, sort and distribute warm coats to those that need them. It costs less than a £1 to collect and distribute a warm coat to someone that needs it.