The School Bank Winter Warmer Campaign

Keep our kids warm this winter

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Winter Warmer Appeal

Our Winter Warmer campaign runs from October to January every year. The response we received from the campaign last year was truly heart-warming with 45 sponsors coming forward.

This year we anticipate the need for well in excess of 120 winter warmer packs for local children.

How Sponsor a Child works

Sponsoring a child gives you the opportunity to purchase a winter warmer packs for a local child in need. The sponsoring process is simple and straightforward.

simply contact us by registering through the pinned post on our Facebook page or email us
we then match you with a young person by giving you their age, size and gender, as well as a list of required items
items required could include a warm jacket, hat/gloves and socks or tights
you do the shopping, working to a budget that suits you
drop off the items to us
we then pass on everything you have purchased for your child directly to them

You can sponsor a child as an individual or even share the cost with friends, family or a team of work colleagues.

Many children across West Lothian are attending school with inadequate jackets and clothing which won’t keep them warm or dry on their walk to and from school. Not having a jacket can mean some children won’t even attend school and this obviously has a big impact on their education. You can help us change this for a local child.

Simply contact us by registering through our Facebook page or email us

If you have any questions before committing, have a look at the FAQs below

What is sponsor a child?

Sponsor a child is an opportunity to support a local child in need by providing us with a winter jacket, hat/gloves and tights/socks that we then pass on to a child who has been referred to us.

How does it work?

We receive referrals from various organisations, including schools, social work, NHS, etc. on behalf of the children and families in need of our support.

We match the sponsor to one of the young people referred to us and provide the sponsor with the age, size and gender of the child. The sponsor then does the shopping and donates the required items to us, so that we can pass them on directly to the family.

What colour and style of items should I buy?

High School children prefer puffer/parka style jackets in darker colours and socks/tights should be black.

Primary School children also prefer puffer/parka style jackets but are more open to slightly brighter colours although dark colours are perfect as they hide the dirt! Socks and tights for primary school aged children could be grey, black or white.

Many sponsors get help from the real experts – young people of their own family! It can also be a rewarding experience for a young person to be involved in helping to choose items for another young person.

Do I have to buy it all?

No, not at all. We will provide you with details of what the child needs and you are welcome to provide all of the items or just a few – it is up to you! Please do not feel obliged to purchase everything on the list, we appreciate this is very costly.

We are grateful for all donations received. To spread the cost, you may want to think about sponsoring a child with family members or work colleagues.

Will my pack go direct to the family that has requested it?

Yes, everything you purchase will go directly to your sponsored young person. You will be issued with a reference number, which equates to the child you have been matched with. Please enclose this number with your donation pack.

Where do I drop the items off?

The items can be dropped off at our office during opening hours:

Dyrburgh House, Kirkton Campus, 3 Meikle Road, Livingston EH54 7DE.

Where should I buy the clothes from?

Anywhere you want! Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Primark all have low cost items that can be bought locally. Don’t forget online as it can be a great option as it gives more variety across sizes.

How quickly do I have to provide the items?

Once you have committed to being a sponsor we ask if possible if you could get the items to us within 7-14 days. We aim to turnaround the packs as quickly as possible. If you are having difficulty meeting this time frame, please get in touch.

What happens if I can’t get all the items?

Don’t worry! Just get what you can and we will provide the rest. Sometimes ordering online can be an easier option, as the shops don’t always have the sizes in stock.

I still have more questions who do I contact?

Please contact our Project Coordinator Collette Moran on 07578 811398 or email collette@schoolbank-westlothian.org

Wow. Just wow. I’m genuinely lost for words and have never seen my son and daughter so excited about school uniform before. Just receiving the bag of stuff ignited a liveliness in them that’s been absent for many recent months.

It always seems that teenagers get lost and forgotten about within donations and it means so much to us that consideration was given to them and not only that but that they received branded items.

Oh my life. Thank you thank you thank you. It could not have come at a better time and I hope the places that help out like this realise the difference that they make to people’s lives.

Sponsor a Child campaign

Our Sponsor a Child campaign is similar to our Winter Warmer campaign and runs between May and August. As a sponsor, you are matched directly with a young person and are given the age, size and gender of the child.

You then decide how much you want to spend and purchase a uniform pack that could include uniform, PE kit, footwear, jacket and school bag.

Our feedback from referrers has commented on the positive difference a uniform pack makes to children, especially at the start of the new school year.

Our referrers tell us the children benefit is several ways including: a feeling of inclusion within their school community allowing them to focus on their education; it also improves their confidental and boosts their mental health and increases their attendance at school. In addition, the impact an be felt not only by the child but in many cases their parents/carers benefit.

The Sponsor a child campaign is our main fundraiser during the year and we are very grateful for the generosity and support we receive from the community.

In 2019, we received 389 Sponsors, totalling £44,000.