• Latest
  • Trending

Lockdown poverty forcing young children to wear wellies and slippers to school

Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

News Press Live
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Crime
    • Economy
    • News of England
    • News of Northern Ireland
    • News of Scotland
    • News of Wales
    Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

    Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

    Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

    Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

    Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

    Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

    Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

    Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

    Horse Racing Getting back on track

    Rochdale hopes machine centre will manufacture revival in fortunes

    The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

    The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

    Convoy drives through London shouting  the Jews, rape their daughters’

    Convoy drives through London shouting the Jews, rape their daughters’

    Conflict intensifies in Gaza as Israeli strikes destroy Gaza tower housing

    Trending Tags

      • Crime
      • Economy
      • News of England
      • News of Northern Ireland
      • News of Scotland
    • Royal Family
    • Tv & Showbiz
    • World News
    • JOBS
    • Sport
      • Football
      • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos
    • Login
    • Register
    • Latest Headlines
    • Advertise With Us
    • Find A Job
    Sunday, January 29, 2023
    Watch Live Sport
    • Home
    • News
      • All
      • Crime
      • Economy
      • News of England
      • News of Northern Ireland
      • News of Scotland
      • News of Wales
      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

      Horse Racing Getting back on track

      Rochdale hopes machine centre will manufacture revival in fortunes

      The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

      The sad state of Cardiff city centre after a year of lockdown as shops lose fight to hold on

      Convoy drives through London shouting  the Jews, rape their daughters’

      Convoy drives through London shouting the Jews, rape their daughters’

      Conflict intensifies in Gaza as Israeli strikes destroy Gaza tower housing

      Trending Tags

        • Crime
        • Economy
        • News of England
        • News of Northern Ireland
        • News of Scotland
      • Royal Family
      • Tv & Showbiz
      • World News
      • JOBS
      • Sport
        • Football
        • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos
      No Result
      View All Result
      News Press Live
      No Result
      View All Result

      Lockdown poverty forcing young children to wear wellies and slippers to school

      15.4k
      VIEWS
      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

      Children are having to go to school and nursery wearing just slippers or wellington boots due to increasing levels of shoe poverty.

      Despite the freezing weather and deep snow last week, some young ones were forced to walk in canvas shoes, the head of a large nursery chain in London said.

      Sal’s Shoes, a charity launched to send previously worn shoes to parts of the developing world, is spending more and more time making sure British children are booted.

      During lockdown it has seen demand soar and has provided 20,000 shoes to kids in the UK since the pandemic began.

      The revelation comes with Boris Johnson poised to announce the “roadmap” for lifting the lockdown in England today, as the vaccine rollout gathers pace.

      Last week the Surrey charity sent a consignment of winter boots and wellies to London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), which runs 39 nurseries across London.

      Are you a parent who has been struggling in lockdown? Send your story to webnews@mirror.co.uk

      CJ Bowry is the founder of Sal's Shoes
      CJ Bowry is the founder of Sal’s Shoes
      (Image: Supplied)
      Read More
      Related Articles
      Read More
      Related Articles

      “They had kids coming to school in canvas shoes which stay wet all day from the snow,” CJ Bowry, who founded Sal’s Shoes, told The Mirror.

      “They contacted us knowing the parents in their community couldn’t afford to buy shoes.

      “We started supporting them in September last year when kids were being sent to school in their slippers.”

      For CJ, who says Sal’s Shoes are sent to all parts of the UK fairly evenly, lack of proper footwear is an indicator of how much low income families are struggling.

      “It shows the level of poverty for low income families in this country”, she continued.

      CJ's charity is sending shoes to British children in increasing numbers
      CJ’s charity is sending shoes to British children in increasing numbers
      (Image: Supplied)
      Read More
      Related Articles

      “Shoes used to be affordable. If it comes to a choice of paying utilities and feeding your family, shoes and clothing are coming further down the pecking order.”

      June O’Sullivan, CEO of LEYF, knew school uniform poverty was going to be among a raft of issues aggravated by the first lockdown.

      “Some hadn’t left their houses in five weeks,” she said of children from low income families who attend her nurseries.

      “They were hungry. They hadn’t had a hugely healthy diet in a while.

      The charity finds new owners for worn shoes
      The charity finds new owners for worn shoes
      (Image: Supplied)

      “Quietly, parents would say to us they were worried about kids not having a school uniform or only having their winter shoes.

      “We realised these children didn’t have proper shoes.

      “I was shocked and saddened in September 2020 after lockdown one, to see some of our pupils returning in slippers and wellies because their families couldn’t afford shoes for school.”

      Volunteers help send shoes out to all parts of the country and 49 other nations
      Volunteers help send shoes out to all parts of the country and 49 other nations
      (Image: Supplied)

      She added: “Children are the litmus test of what is going right and what’s going wrong.

      “Poverty has been aggravated by Covid, and you see this first with children.

      “Whether tooth decay, obesity. It’s the same with shoes.”

      For both June and CJ, an important part of making sure children have the right shoes is ensuring their sense of dignity is kept intact.

      Sal’s Shoes launched its School Shoes Fund in the summer ahead of the September start date.

      The idea is to raise money to help families buy shoes before children go into school in the wrong uniform, which might be embarrassing for them.

      The scheme is continuing ahead of schools returning during the third lockdown.

      “We have already been sending out shoes to schools knowing the families won’t be able to afford the shoes,” CJ said.

      Sal's Shoes volunteers hope to help children retain their dignity
      Sal’s Shoes volunteers hope to help children retain their dignity
      (Image: Supplied)

      “It will be retaining their dignity.

      “We are asking people to donate money so we can donate new school shoes.

      “It gives them an extra spring in their step. Having new shoes at the beginning of the school year is a rite of passage.”

      Those feeling inspired to help the charity can either donate money or shoes.

      CJ said: “We literally collect every single type that we can think of – ballet shoes, football boots, shoes in all sizes so long as the footwear is child appropriate and practical. “

      “If we have a surplus of larger sizes they often go to homeless shelters and now to domestic violence refuges.”

      To find out how you can help click here.

      -- to www.mirror.co.uk

      Share308Tweet193SendSendShare54Pin69

      RelatedPosts

      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary
      News

      Gates Cambridge Scholarship celebrates 20th anniversary

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits
      News

      Israel-Gaza conflict rages as US envoy visits

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme
      Crime

      Police and Crime Commissioner to end funding for heroin addiction treatment scheme

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk
      Economy

      Nicola Sturgeon’s own economic adviser warns Indyref2 puts recovery at risk

      London

      Horse Racing Getting back on track

      News

      Rochdale hopes machine centre will manufacture revival in fortunes

      Recommended Stories

      Premiers Should Not Play Partisan Politics with Health Care; Concrete Commitments Needed From Provincial & Federal Governments

      Police deny that port staff in Northern Ireland are under threat

      Police deny that port staff in Northern Ireland are under threat

      Primary schools in multiple Welsh council areas to shut early for Christmas

      Primary schools in multiple Welsh council areas to shut early for Christmas

      Popular Stories

      • Joe Biden opposes guarded border between Ireland and Northern Ireland | US News

        President Biden Promises to Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50 Percent by 2030

        2636 shares
        Share 1054 Tweet 659
      • Prince Philip is dead

        2632 shares
        Share 1053 Tweet 658
      • Two US Capitol police officers injured after suspect rams car into barrier and stabbed. Suspect dead

        2372 shares
        Share 949 Tweet 593
      • Prince Harry ‘back in the UK’ ahead of Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday

        2143 shares
        Share 857 Tweet 536
      • Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says European Super League can no longer go ahead

        2115 shares
        Share 846 Tweet 529
      News Press Live

      © 2021 Copyright - All rights reserved.

      Navigate Site

      • About Us
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Private Policy
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us

      Follow Us

      No Result
      View All Result
      • Home
      • News
        • Crime
        • Economy
        • News of England
        • News of Northern Ireland
        • News of Scotland
      • Royal Family
      • Tv & Showbiz
      • World News
      • JOBS
      • Sport
        • Football
        • Watch Live Score Football (Soccer) Videos

      © 2021 Copyright - All rights reserved.

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password? Sign Up

      Create New Account!

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?