Cambridgeshire libraries offer coats to help with cost of living

Libraries in Cambridgeshire are offering coats for adults and children to help with cost of living pressures

Clothes rails full of free coats have been installed in two Cambridge libraries to help those struggling financially.

Cambridgeshire County Council said the rails in Bar Hill and March libraries provide winter coats for adults and children.

Both libraries are considering ways to help once winter coats are not needed.

The scheme was a "simple yet effective way" to help during a cost of living crisis, the council said.

The first rail was set up in Bar Hill in the autumn to help asylum seekers who had moved into a nearby hotel but has since been used by "a range of people in he community", the local authority said.

It began with staff brining in their own coats and then the library received donations from people wanting to help.

'Simple yet effective'

Another winter coat rail was put up in March library last month.

The library plans to replace the winter coats with other high-demand clothing, such as World Book Day outfits for children.

Both libraries are continuing to ask for donations.

Tom Sanderson, who chairs the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Our libraries play a critical role in supporting our communities from offering warm spaces to free internet access.

"It's a service we're incredibly proud of and have just approved a further investment of £1.32m over the next year.

"Winter coat rails are a simple yet effective way of allowing communities to work together and show care for one another, which is more important than ever during this cost-of-living crisis."