Reading Station to Host Winter Clothing Drive for Local Residents

A winter clothing appeal in Reading is once again encouraging businesses, commuters and residents to come together to support people facing hardship during the colder months.

The Winter Warmer programme is collecting good-quality second-hand coats, scarves, hats and gloves, which will be redistributed to people in need across the town. The initiative has already made a significant impact in previous years, with more than 750 items of adult and children’s clothing distributed during last winter’s campaign.

This year’s main donation point will be located in the Brunel Arcade at Reading Station, close to the main ticket office and Costa Coffee. Donations can be dropped off between 27 and 29 January, from 8am to 6pm. People who need warm clothing will then be able to collect items free of charge on 30 January, between 10am and 2pm.

The appeal is open to everyone, with Reading BID encouraging participation from town centre businesses, local residents, students and commuters. As in previous years, businesses in the town centre are being asked to help promote the campaign and provide staff volunteers to support the collection point.

The programme is being delivered through a partnership between Southeast Community Rail Partnership and Reading Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership, supported by Reading BID, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and Network Rail. Additional pop-up collections at the University of Reading and through local community groups are also helping to widen the reach of the scheme.

Calum Mackay, station transformation programme manager at National Rail, said:

“We’re proud to support the Winter Warmers initiative alongside our partners in Reading. Now in its fourth year, this programme is a fantastic way for us to help those in need within our local community. We encourage everyone to check their wardrobes for good-quality winter items and bring them to the station during one of our designated drop-off days. Our goal is to make this our biggest event yet, reaching as many people as possible – every single donation truly makes a difference.”

Alexa Volker, Reading BID manager, said:

“Reading BID is proud to be supporting Reading’s Winter Warmer programme again this year. Winter can be a challenging time for many within our community, and something as simple as a warm coat is not always guaranteed. The Winter Warmer initiative raises awareness of this need and brings people together to make a real difference for those most affected. Over the past four years, thousands of pieces of warm clothing have been donated, making a real difference to people across our community. Last year alone, over 200 people came to collect clothing, meaning over 200 winters were warmer because of the kindness of our local public.”

Image: Network Rail