Manx charity launching free coat scheme planned as winter looms

The campaign begins in November and is welcoming coat donations

A free coat scheme is being launched on the Isle of Man as winter looms.

People can take a jacket from a rail outside the Live at Home charity shop in Laxey from 1 November to 29 February.

The campaign aims to provide a coat to anyone who may need one, manager Alison Lester said.

The idea follows on from the government's warm-spaces initiative, which the charity received a grant from in 2022.

Live at Home, which works to help older people stay in their homes for as long as possible, runs weekly sessions offering food and entertainment and hosts a digital hub at the shop.

Ms Lester said while the charity works primarily with people over 50, "schoolchildren outgrow their coats so quickly we thought why not open it out everybody".

"The cost of living is so high and people are struggling," she said.

'Kettle always on'

Chief executive Karen Winter said she hoped people would make use of the scheme.

People can donate coats in a good condition at the charity shop or at the Salmon Lake Centre where the charity's sessions are held.

The charity hopes the scheme will also raise awareness of their digital hub, which offers help to people having problems with technology such as tablets and smartphones, while people are also welcome to simply drop in for a chat.

Ms Lester said: "The kettle is always on and there's always biscuits in the tin."

The organisation wants to continue to grow services to offer more events in the evenings and weekends as "we know loneliness does not stop at 5 o'clock on Friday", she added.

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