MIIXER cic – The Big Pick shop (formerly Store 21) on Musselburgh High Street re-opened on 16th March, permanently.
ELC and community are working together to help our community, so schools and other parents / carers can help support families by sharing this information.
In addition to the wonderful bargains to be had daily, with pre-loved clothing, footwear and much more available in store, there is a keen desire to help families who are in particular need.
School uniforms and wellies are free every day and anyone requiring a suit for interview will also be assisted in the same way.
To help these families, on a particular day of the month, kids’ clothes/shoes will be free. This will be trialled over the first 3 months to ascertain demand – and ability to meet demand. A referral system (or similar may be created depending on result of the trial). Ask school staff for more information if you, or someone you know, may really benefit from this – and, of course, we are all encouraged to think about donating and buying in general, to help support this endeavour.
“So many of us can hit difficult times – and footwear /clothing for children is always expensive and ongoing, so it’s great to have so many recognising the problem and working together to do all that we can to manage. MIIXER, the East Lothian School Uniform Bank and Carefree Kids, along with Support from the Start’s Kindness Funds, Kindcycle East Lothian and the work of East Lothian Welcome’s Refugees volunteers, are based on the ‘old school’ way of people helping people in a neighbourly way. Many clubs and groups are keen to support members too, and ensure children and young people are never turned away through lack of funds or support. With Haddington Tennis Club a great example of the Haddington Sports Hub, supporting children, if necessary, with footwear and not just loan of racquets and providing balls and coaching. ”
Tom Reid, Head of Infrastructure ELC says; This is a third sector initiative that works in partnership with ELC Waste Services. From my perspective this is a fantastic opportunity to tackle deprivation and would welcome you sharing this opportunity to the families for whom it is most appropriate, to ensure it’s a targeted success.