A LEADING shoe retailer has donated more than 41,000 pairs of children’s footwear to national family charity Home-Start UK.

The scheme by Russell and Bromley is benefitting thousands of parents across Hampshire.

It is aimed towards families managing tight budgets, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.

Charlotte Dooley, fundraising manger of Home-Start Hampshire, said: “The families we support are so grateful for this wonderful donation of shoes.

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“It will make such a difference.”

The mammoth shoe donation has been sized up and it was found that if every pair of shoes was lined up, toe to heel, they would stretch for more than five miles – the height of Mount Everest.

A spokesperson from Russell & Bromley said: “We pride ourselves in the charity relationships we endeavour to nurture and are delighted that we are able to help Home-Start families in this way and make such a positive impact at the start of this new year.”

Home-Start UK began in 1973 in Leicestershire and now has more than 180 Home-Starts across the UK, supporting parents facing issues including postnatal depression, isolation, bereavement, coping with twins, financial worries and physical disabilities.

Through a network of trained volunteers, families are matched with a volunteer who visits once a week for two hours to support in whatever way they need.

It could be as simple as holding a crying, colicky baby so a mum can shower in peace, accompanying a mum to a toddler group to help her build confidence, supporting parents with a sick child in hospital or helping with advice around managing budgets.

 

 

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