Hundreds of coats given to estate agents for homeless

Hundreds of coats have been collected in the "Coats for Christmas" campaign

Hundreds of coats have been donated to firms in north Staffordshire and south Cheshire to give to homeless people this winter.

The "Coats for Christmas" scheme was started this year by Goddard Dunbar solicitors in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, after staff said they were inspired by a similar scheme in London.

The idea was reinforced for one of the firm's directors, Hannah Stazaker, when she said she was de-icing her car in a woolly coat.

"I was warm and I kind of took that for granted before we did this campaign," she said.

“Not everyone has a coat, and in 2023 that’s quite a sad thing to say.”

Twenty-five estate agents in the area agreed to take part and Daniel and Hulme estate agent in Leek had collected the largest number of coats so far, staff said.

Director Natalie Goodwin estimated they have had about 200 coats donated at their branch.

“These days, giving to charities is sometimes difficult if it’s monetary, so this is just another way people can help," she said.

The coats would be split between 10 charities to give to homeless people from Monday, organisers said.