Two friends have created a clothing bank in Oakham that is proving such a success that it is seeking premises.

The venture was launched in July by Rutlanders Helen Wolstenholme and Mandy Black.

Helen told Nub News the pair were chatting at the start of the year about local issues in need of support.

She said: "We knew there had been a Foodbank successfully in existence within Oakham for a few years, but questioned why no clothing bank - to which people could donate unwanted but good quality clothes and these would then be passed on to those in need locally.

"In our joint experience, families and individuals can find themselves in crisis for a number of reasons such as bereavement, redundancy, family breakdown, illness and as well as needing food they must have clothes for themselves and their families.

"We hoped if we created the Rutland Clothing Bank & distributed clothing based on referrals from bodies such as Citizens Advice, Foodbank etc we could offer support and relieve some of the struggles people face. Lockdown then occurred in March so our plans went on hold until July."

The pair have a broad range of business skills that have proved invaluable with their venture.

Helen has spent many years in sales and marketing, plus training and events. This year, because of the pandemic, her work has reduced significantly, although she still hopes to retain a paid 'day job.'

Mandy runs her own very successful and highly regarded laundry / dry cleaning business 'Rutland Laundry' in Oakham.

But all those involved with the running of the clothing bank volunteers and unpaid as it has received zero funding to date.

Since the July launch, the clothing bank has created its own Facebook and Instagram pages.

Helen continued: "We are still very much in our infancy, but we have received huge encouragement and support locally and been overwhelmed with the amount of generous clothing donations we received in a very short space of time!!

"We had to put new donations 'on hold' last month but we hope to soon be able to accept them again! To date we have been using home sheds, outbuildings and part of a storage unit, but have quickly outgrown this space and desperately need extra storage.

"In addition with us now becoming more operational in receiving referrals for those in crisis and desiring a more central Rutland base, we are definitely on the lookout for some means of premises!"

Helen added: "Aimed at helping those in crisis within the Rutland community, the Rutland Clothing Bank hopes to support those who find themselves in need of good quality, wearable clothes by providing them with donated clothes that still have wear left in them and are ready for a second lease of life!

"Run by a small army of volunteers, we charge no fee and are discreet and professional when it comes to whatever circumstances have led to people being in need.

"We currently receive NO funding whatsoever but hope that going forwards we may be eligible for some form of grant."