Free laundrette set up to help with cost of living

The laundrette will allow people to do their washing for free

A charity in Cheshire has opened a community laundrette allowing people to wash and dry their clothes for free.

The laundrette, in a community centre in Winsford, has been set up by Motherwell Cheshire.

It has been named after volunteer Edna Fletcher and will have her name up on the wall.

“I’ve always wanted my name in lights,” Ms Fletcher said.

The laundrette is set in a community centre in Winsford

Motherwell Cheshire is based in Crewe and provides support in physical and mental health for women and girls.

The charity already has a community hub that provides free items such as school uniforms and baby products.

They focus on “anything that alleviates the cost for families,” founder Kate Blakemore said.

“I think people are really looking at where they can reduce costs in their household and this is one way,” she said.

“The other thing we wanted to do was for people whose washing machines break they’re not worrying about getting a doorstep loan and they can use us in the interim as well.”

The laundrette includes two washers and two dryers - which are completely free to use.

Users do need to book online in advance to use the facility at New Images Youth and Community Centre and can have two free uses a week.

The charity said while using the site, visitors can socialise, have a hot drink and also access any drop-in support they might need around issues such as money management, health and wellbeing and employment.

Edna Fletcher first became involved with the centre in 1971

It has been named Edna’s Laundrette in honour of long-standing volunteer Ms Fletcher, who has been involved with the centre since 1971.

She said she was “thrilled”, adding: “People should talk to one another and we can always sort them out.

“Same as the washing, we can sort that out as well.”

The laundrette has been funded for an initial two years.