Free Shop Crawley is providing free school shoes for children across the town

Tuesday, 17 August 2021 11:21

Free Shop Crawley has kicked off their 2021 shoe appeal, gifting 122 children with new Clarks shoes ready for the Autumn term.

The shoe appeal was launched with the aim of providing new, well fitted, quality school shoes to children in need across Crawley and has raised £6,000 with the support of kind donations throughout the year

A fundraising comedy night hosted by Romesh Ranganathan at the Hawth earlier in the year also raised money for the cause.

Clarks in County Mall were kind enough to open their doors after hours on the weekend, so the funds could be put to good use.

There were 112 children invited to join the team in store and were treated to the full Clarks experience – having their feet measured and then selecting their favourite new shoes to wear in to the new school year with pride.

Laura Jayne Wainwright, CEO of Free Shop Crawley says: “The aim of this project was to provide children across Crawley with well fitted new shoes. Shoes which will support healthy growth and development and allow them to run and play comfortably."

Following the launch event in Clarks, Free Shop Crawley will be helping another 150 children with new shoes before school starts with donations of new or barely worn school uniform and shoes.

Phil Brown, Area Manager for the Crawley Clarks store said: "It was a pleasure to be able to support Free Shop Crawley in providing children with the full Clarks experience.

The shoe appeal continues this Thursday at the Free Shop premises in Gossops Green, to provide new and nearly new shoes and school uniform items for anyone in need.

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