Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Website to aid fans’ charity’s clothing project
Airdrie fans’ charity Diamonds in the Community has launched a new website to ensure more people can benefit from its growing clothing project – and has also teamed up with another Monklands organisation on a winter warmer at its new town-centre premises.
Volunteers have developed a new website for their Monklands baby and family clothing aid, which allows anyone in need to be referred for help in kitting out children, adults and even households.
They are also assisting Coatbridge, Airdrie & Monklands Rotary Club with their Wrap Up Lanarkshire campaign, which asks people to donate warm winter coats to be distributed to people of all ages who need them ahead of the arrival of colder weather.
Diamonds in Community manager Dougy Allsop told how assistance can be requested from the charity’s baby and family service through an online referral available at www. monklandsaid.com
It can be completed by a healthcare professional, social worker, police or emergency services officer, school staff, council staff member or representative of a job or government advice centre or a charity.
He said: “Requests are submitted to us through our online form by a professional who can vouch for the child or family’s level of need – and once received, we create a package tailored to the needs of the family members.
“We can assist with clothing for newborns to adults, shoes, household essentials, baby equipment, toys, toiletries, larger household items and more for everyone, from individuals to full families.”
The Diamonds charity is now based in premises at 29 Graham Street in Airdrie town centre – and their new base is also being used for donations to the Rotary-led Wrap Up Lanarkshire project.
With the slogan “warm a heart, give a coat”, it involves collecting and distributing winter jackets.
A Rotary spokesperson told the Advertiser how there has been an “overwhelming” response to the appeal for surplus coats to be redistributed, and said of the Diamonds charity: “Thankfully, they have the premises and space to act as an outlet for the scheme and we cannot thank the team enough for their support.”
Dougy added: “Now that winter is just around the corner, we’re happy to announce this project in partnership with Coatbridge, Airdrie and Monklands Rotary Club and we’re grateful for all their assistance.
“We’re offering warm jackets to anyone in need, from babies up to adults, and we’re asking people to please share it if they can and keep everyone warm this winter.
“No referral is needed and full discretion is guaranteed – all people have to do is come along to our premises at 29 Graham Street in Airdrie and help themselves.
“There will be no questions asked; our volunteers will be on hand to assist where needed, and we’ll have information available from other community groups in the area and hope to signpost these services to anyone coming along.
“We welcome other groups in the area who are in need of coats getting in touch, and we also welcome donations to our premises and are always happy to have new volunteers along!”
Coats can be collected at 9.30am and 2pm on weekdays, and the charity can be contacted by emailing diamondsitc@hotmail.com