A Scots shopping centre is offering a 'pay what you can' hub, where people can pick up outerwear and knitwear ahead of next week's cold snap.
The Winter Warmers Community Hub, has been set up in the Thistles shopping centre, Stirling, allows customers to take what they need in return for a donation. It has been set up in partnership with charity grop Transition Stirling to support shoppers through the cost of living crisis.
Anyone who cannot afford new winterwear can pick up excellent condition pre-loved clothes, and those unable to make a donation can swap their current coat for a warmer one
As well as offering warm clothes to those who may otherwise miss out on them, the hub is encouraging locals who have unused winterwear to donate any items that they can.
Talking about the Winter Warmers Hub Gary Turnbull, Centre Director at Thistles, said: "These are exceptional times and the rising cost of household bills and weekly food shops is putting many families under financial pressure.
"We hope the Winter Warmers Hub will offer some relief to local families who are worried about keeping their loved ones in warm clothes.
"The Hub has a range of winter essentials for adults and children and we welcome everyone who feels they would benefit from it to come along and take what they need.
"We would also welcome donations of any pre-loved items to help keep the Hub fully stocked."
Donna Wood, Opportunity Developer at Transition Stirling, commented: "We are delighted to work with Thistles shopping centre on the Winter Warmers project.
"Most of us hate to see good items go to waste and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to give good-quality clothing a second-life.
"We believe that this project will help to prevent waste and protect our environment, but also support our local community to ensure that everyone has access to the items that they need.”
It comes as Scotland is set to experience a fresh spell of freezing weather thanks to a bout of cold air coming in from the north.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Monday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 7 as people are being urged to prepare for the snow and ice.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “Very cold air will spread across the UK from late on Sunday through early next week.
"This brings with it snow even to low levels in the north and east through Monday and Tuesday, and in excess of 10cm could accumulate, most likely on high ground in the north, but also settling for a time at lower levels."
The Winter Warmers Hub will be running until April and is open from 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
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