Northampton’s Doddridge Centre is appealing for winter clothes

By Jessica McLoughlin

The Doddridge Centre in St. James End is asking people to donate winter clothes to help people in need.

The resource centre hosts the Community Wardrobe: a facility available to everybody which provides clothes to the less fortunate people in Northampton.

“We found out that parents weren’t able to afford to feed themselves and their children, so my thought process was ‘how are they affording to put clothes on their back if they can’t afford to put food in their tummy?’” said Rachel Bott, the Centre Director of the Doddridge Centre.

People are free to exchange, donate, or take clothes from the Community Wardrobe.

However, there has been a decrease in the number of donations since 2022, in particular of winter clothing, which is needed to protect people during the colder months of the year.

Mrs. Bott explained: “Last year when we opened [the Community Wardrobe] we saw a huge influx of donations…this year we’ve seen an absolute decrease in donations, which is really sad because there is still that need there.”

“We need more winter clothes of all sizes: jumpers, trousers, but in particular we’re really struggling for children’s stuff.”

The centre acknowledged that people may not be in the best position to donate clothing due to the cost of living crisis, but implored those who could give to those in need to do so.

The Community Wardrobe is open on Thursday and Saturday mornings, from 10am to 12pm.

If you want to donate clothes for the Community Wardrobe, take them to the Doddridge Centre at 109 St. James Road.