Leeds: Appeal for people to donate winter coats

Once collected and checked, the coats can be taken for free by those who need them

An anti-waste group has urged people to donate unused winter coats to help people struggling financially to stay warm during the winter.

Zero Waste Leeds said more than 6500 coats were donated last winter and they hope to exceed that this year.

The charity said it has more than 40 public donation points across Leeds.

Project coordinator Tracy Morgan said demand for donated coats was high saying they "leave the racks within days, possibly even hours".

"Leeds, we've found, is a very generous city," she said.

Leeds City Council advises the group on which areas of the city should have collection points for people to get a free coat.

Those include the Compton Centre, in Harehills.

"Particularly in the Compton Centre, we need to be coming at least once a week to fill the rails up," Ms Morgan said.

"If we can save a family some money by using and recycling another coat, they can use that money for essentials like bills and food."

Tracy Morgan said demand for the coats was high and they go "very quickly"

Debbie Binnersley helps collect donated coats.

"There's so many people in Leeds that are struggling," she said.

"They can't afford winter coats and they're having to decide between coats or food.

"This is just one way to help relieve some of that pressure."

Donated coats are checked to make sure they are clean, that the zips and buttons work, and are sorted into men's, women's and children's coats before they are given out to people.

Coats can be donated until the end of January and collected for free until the end of February.