A POPULAR lifeline charity which provides school uniforms, coats, PE kits and other items to children from close to 200 schools across Rubery, Bromsgrove and Birmingham has launched an appeal for storage space.
The Rubery Community Swop Shop, which first launched in December 2018, has seen its demand increase year-on-year, especially with the onset of the cost-of-living crisis.
In the run-up to this school year in September nine to ten volunteers were working flat out on some days to get the items to those who needed them ahead of the start of the school year.
The Rubery Swop Shop has its main base in New Road, Rubery.
Then it had an influx of stock from a Northfield school uniform shop which closed down and those items went to an extra storage unit in Quinton, south Birmingham.
Kristina Murphy, who runs the Swop Shop, said: “It was perfect for us as the uniform items were all for the schools that we serve and the Quinton space enabled us to take it and put it to good use.
“But now, because the building is needed to house pupils who have been dislodged over a school rebuilding programme, that Quinton space is no longer available.
“We have looked everywhere for some extra storage space but nowhere has the kind of volume we need,” she added.
“We don’t care whereabouts it is – provided it is in south Birmingham, Rubery or Bromsgrove district – as that is where most of our volunteers are based and they will need to get there.
“The charity has grown to unbelievable proportions in the last few years and the demand is higher than ever.
“If anyone has a space they think we could use, please get in touch and help me and my volunteers continue the work we are doing for the good of our community and families within it.”
Can you help?
Anyone who can help with a storage space or has any ideas for the use of buildings that can assist should visit ruberyswopshop.co.uk or email [email protected] to get in touch.
Alternatively go to facebook.com/RuberySwopShop for more.
