We’ve just received a wonderful donation from a remarkable charity which helps women around the world

We were delighted recently to receive a wonderful out-of-the-blue gift in the shape of two large Royal Mail sacks filled with hundreds of bras.

It was an extremely generous donation from a Leicester-based charity called The Your Smalls Appeal, which has been providing bras, pants, sanitary pads and other essentials to women and girls around the world, particularly those in developing countries, since 2016.

However, they decided to turn their attention to vulnerable and impoverished women in the UK too in response to the coronavirus crisis.

The underwear they delivered to The New Futures Project last week was a welcome addition to our clothing bank, which is a very popular element of our drop-in service.

It was their second donation to us and they have told us they intend to help us again.

Avril Lewis, crisis support worker at The New Futures Project, said: “We are so grateful to The Your Smalls Appeal. “Getting underwear for our women is one of the areas we’ve struggled with.

“The thing that is so good about their donation is the bras come in all shapes and sizes, so there will be something suitable for all of the women we support.

“Bras are expensive and some of the women we see will go without because they can’t afford them.

“Often we’ll go out and buy an item for someone.

“So this donation will mean we can spend on other areas of our work.

“Also, it’s just good for the women. Getting some nice, good quality underwear could make a girl’s day.”

According to the Your Smalls website – which you will find here – it is helping women and girls in the UK and in developing countries beyond the provision of underwear.

They write: “We financially support a growing number of girls’ access to education by paying tuition fees, school uniforms and school books.

“Over the years we have been supporting an ever-growing group of pregnant women in rural parts of Africa who don’t have easy access to sanitary pads following childbirth.

“These clean vital items help to prevent infection offering a hygienic, clean solution.

“Bras, pants and sanitary pads are provided to the amazing group of professional women from nurses to teachers throughout Africa.

“Period poverty is a real issue for women and girls who don’t have the means, or easy access to local supplies.

Elsewhere on its site, the group says it receives donations from a wide range of sources, such as “individual ladies, women connected to local business, networking groups, churches, girls and mums at various schools and colleges, not only in the UK but from across the globe.”

They add: “We are still shocked that there are still women in the world who do not have access to this basic item of clothing.”

Diana Esho the founder of The Your Smalls Appeal, said: “Access to basic yet essential items such as bras, pants and sanitary pads is vital to all women, especially women escaping violence and abusive situations.

“The Your Smalls Appeal relies on its donations from women across the globe who generously donate on an ongoing basis, not only do we help provide essential items but we are focusing on sustainability.

“Recycling is vital to help reduce the amount of clothing going to landfill and encourage women to become sustainable shoppers.”

The New Futures Project was set up more than 20 years ago to support women involved in sex work.

However, we have evolved into a comprehensive welfare and counselling service for women and young people dealing with sexual abuse or exploitation, domestic violence, trafficking, poverty and debt, substance use or mental ill-health.

Call us on 0116 251 0803 or send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk

You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE.

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