The Textile Services Association (TSA) has announced that it will be supporting the new National Family Centre Bank project to supply clean bedding and towels to families experiencing hardship.
The project was introduced at the TSA's national congress by former prime minister, and the project's patron, Gordon Brown. It allows families to accessa range of useful goods such as kitchen items, toilet rolls, nappies, clothing and footwear and other household furnishings and goods. These families are identified through practitioners such as teachers, doctors, and social workers. It is being developed by the Cottage Family Centre in Fife, where it is known as The Big Hoose project, and will begin being rolled out in cities across the UK.
While the project has deals with several different businesses, including Amazon UK, to supply most items from surplus stock, the new deal will allow them to provide bed linen like duvet and pillow covers. These will be second hand stock supplied by UK Hospitality members, which will be cleaned by TSA members before being sent to the Family Centre Bank's warehouse for distribution to those in need.
David Stevens, CEO of the TSA, is clear about the importance and potential of the new project. "Ensuring families in need have bedding is a big priority for The Big Hoose project, especially during the current energy crisis," he said. "Congress was told about families that have no heating and no bedding. The National Family Centre Bank is a fantastic project, and we can make a real difference to people's lives."
Stevens has urged laundries and suppliers who are interested in supporting the project to contact the TSA for more information about plans and how they can help.