Charity turns its attention to helping London’s children

AN international charity supplying clothing to disadvantaged children abroad has now prioritised helping needy kids in London.

Diverting from international aid, they are assisting the capital’s poverty-stricken children and incoming Afghan refugees.

Dress a Girl Around the World – UK, aims to provide the very best new dresses and shorts to children in low-income families.

Inspirational volunteers are working around the clock to handmake clothing to meet supply levels in the UK and are diverting global shipments that would have been delayed due to the pandemic.

England’s ambassador for Dress a Girl Around the World, Jacqui Onslow, said Covid-19 made the charity see how much help was needed in Britain.

“Before coronavirus, we used to have our collection of volunteers making dresses for those in need in Africa, Syria, Turkey, and many more,” she said.

“When coronavirus meant we couldn’t transport any clothes abroad we looked at other options. During coronavirus, we saw people using food banks and charities calling for children’s clothing across the UK. We were able to provide for children across London by contacting other charities who could use our handmade clothes to benefit disadvantaged children in the capital.

“We delivered to soup kitchens, food banks and other community outlets.

“Now, with Afghan refugees settling in London, we have called for our army of volunteers to make suitable winter clothing for those who desperately need it.”

The charity has also worked closely with others in the community and helped provide dresses for victims of domestic abuse, disadvantaged families, and London’s refugees.

Jacqui said that she used to take a suitcase of dresses over to Uganda before travel was banned because of coronavirus.

Although the charity has still been able to send some dresses abroad with the help of others, the increased demand for clothes in London, and covid restrictions, has meant more clothes are being distributed domestically than ever before.

Visit the website at www. dressagirlaroundtheworlduk.co.uk.