BOLTON’S five Rotary clubs have joined forces to help the many people in Bolton who will be struggling to keep warm this coming winter as they go out and about.

Rotary Wrap Up Bolton is a two-week long project, run by Bolton’s rotary clubs, collecting unwanted warm winter coats from the public and distributing them to those who need one but cannot afford one.

This year’s Wrap Up Bolton is a repeat of a successful project undertaken in Bolton two years ago and members of the public are asked to drop off their coats at one of several collection points around the town, after which they will be sorted into men’s, women’s, and children’s.

Christopher Hill, Turton Rotary Club’s vice president and deputy headteacher at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, said the coats are needed now more than ever before.

He said: “With charities struggling over the past 18 months due to Covid-19 and people being reluctant to donate items to charity shops because of the transmission of the infection.

“It’s important now more than ever that people donate to help those in need.”

Coats can be donated at 22 collection points including Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, Westhoughton RC Church, Tesco Middlebrook, Sharples School before they are distributed to over five charities; the Fortalice Women’s Refuge, Urban Outreach, the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Bolton Destitution Project, Bolton Community Kitchen and similar organisations.

A spokesperson for Rotary Wrap Up Bolton said: “We do not distribute the coats to those in need directly, because we want to help charities to create lasting links with those they set out to help.

“When a vulnerable person reaches out to a charity for a coat this winter, they will also discover the other resources and forms of support available to them.

“It’s amazing to think that a coat you donate could kick-start a relationship between those in need and the charities that can help them by providing year-round services and support.

“Coats you no longer need can make a real difference to the homeless and vulnerable this Winter.”

To find the full list of cost donation locations, go to https://wrapupuk.org/