Shoe donations help pupils at Carnforth School thanks to our partnership with Shoe Aid

A thoughtful partnership between ourselves and a Nottingham based national charity working to eliminate footwear poverty has reaped rewards for one Worcester school.  

The partnership with Shoe Aid has delivered much needed support to pupils at Carnforth School in Warndon in Worcester through the donation of wellington boots.  

The initiative came to life following a conversation between ourselves and the school, after identifying a local need.  With Warndon home to a high number of our customers, twe were keen to support children in the community.  

Through its long standing relationship with Shoe Aid, and the generosity of our colleagues, 13 pairs of wellington boots have now been donated to children at the school, 11 from Shoe Aid and two donated directly by our colleagues.  

We have been working with Shoe Aid for more than two years, with ongoing collection points in our offices and wider support through community partnerships and local campaigns.  

Paul Prigg, Headteacher at Carnforth School said: “We are extremely grateful for the donation of wellies;  receiving the wellies, gave the children greater access to the outdoors, both during lunchtimes and through forest school sessions and importantly allows them to get fully stuck into the great outdoors. The kind donation from Platform Housing and Shoe Aid has increased the number of wellies we can offer as we continue to set ourselves the goal of providing wellies for all children. This simple gift is already making a big difference.”  

Carnforth School has been developing play provision through a programme known as OPAL or Outdoor Play and Learning. It has transformed lunchtimes for the children and married closely to the school’s ethos and vision in which the Early Year Approach builds solid, lifelong foundations.   

Paul Edwards, our Community Engagement Officer said: “Looking after the needs of our communities is high on our list of priorities and we are so pleased that our partnership with Shoe Aid has such a positive impact on those who need the most help.”  

Our overall support of Shoe Aid has seen us donate 1750 pairs of shoes over the past 2 years to the charity, alongside financial contributions to help cover rising postal and distribution costs.   

Shoe Aid collects, cleans and redistributes pre-loved and surplus footwear to men, women and children across the UK who are unable to afford suitable shoes, a barrier that can prevent people from attending school, starting work or even leaving their homes.   

In addition to shoe donations, we have been actively promoting the work of Shoe Aid within our communities. This includes outreach through local schools, partnerships with homeless charities, and collaborations with community groups to raise awareness and ensure even more people can benefit from the support Shoe Aid provides.   

This partnership not only provides critical support to those in need but also plays a role in tackling environmental waste. Footwear can take up to a century to decompose in landfill, repurposing it through Shoe Aid ensures that every donation has a social and environmental impact.  

To find out more about Shoe Aid and how you or your organisation can get involved, visit www.shoeaid.co.uk.   

Photo caption : Children from Carnforth School accessing the outdoor environment as part of its lunchtime provision.