Life Expectancy Project
Children’s clothes swap shop
St Chad’s, Leasowe and St. John’s, Meols
Background
This joint project started in October 2014 with a team from both of the churches doing a leaflet drop to all of the houses on the Leasowe estate, and began with children’s clothes being generously donated by people from both churches. Display rails and storage boxes were purchased, and all the donated clothes were evaluated, washed and ironed by people from both congregations and in October 2014. The swap Shop has been open every Tuesday every month since October 2014.
Initial interest was quite slow and limited although since the start, the numbers of people attending has grown with a small number of regular attendees. There has been a significant increase in interest (in both donations of clothes and those seeking to “swap”). We have had visits from clergy and lay people from other parishes responding to the information provided by the diocese, and local support groups have also begun to “signpost” people to our service
The swap shop offers clothes for new baby up to 18 year olds and we are working to develop a wide range of school uniforms for local schools. The swap shop is an informal environment offering a warm welcome with tea/coffee and biscuits and toys for children to play with whilst adults “browse”.
We would be very pleased to have additional help in this very worthwhile project, and to offer your help please contact Tim Smith on the e-mail address below. The more people we have helping, then the less time each person has to commit and we can guarantee that you will find it a rewarding experience.
We would be delighted to provide more information about the Swap Shop but would also be very pleased to see you if you would like to visit. For more information you can either e-mail timbosmith54@gmail.com of St Johns or beryl.bowes@gmail.com at St Chads, or come along on a Tuesday.
This joint project started in October 2014 with a team from both of the churches doing a leaflet drop to all of the houses on the Leasowe estate, and began with children’s clothes being generously donated by people from both churches. Display rails and storage boxes were purchased, and all the donated clothes were evaluated, washed and ironed by people from both congregations and in October 2014. The swap Shop has been open every Tuesday every month since October 2014.
Initial interest was quite slow and limited although since the start, the numbers of people attending has grown with a small number of regular attendees. There has been a significant increase in interest (in both donations of clothes and those seeking to “swap”). We have had visits from clergy and lay people from other parishes responding to the information provided by the diocese, and local support groups have also begun to “signpost” people to our service
The swap shop offers clothes for new baby up to 18 year olds and we are working to develop a wide range of school uniforms for local schools. The swap shop is an informal environment offering a warm welcome with tea/coffee and biscuits and toys for children to play with whilst adults “browse”.
We would be very pleased to have additional help in this very worthwhile project, and to offer your help please contact Tim Smith on the e-mail address below. The more people we have helping, then the less time each person has to commit and we can guarantee that you will find it a rewarding experience.
We would be delighted to provide more information about the Swap Shop but would also be very pleased to see you if you would like to visit. For more information you can either e-mail timbosmith54@gmail.com of St Johns or beryl.bowes@gmail.com at St Chads, or come along on a Tuesday.
