An outdoors store in Swindon's Designer Outlet is collaborating with a local charity for its Swap-a-Coat campaign to help the homeless.

Clothing retailer TOG24 and Swindon charity Alternative Angels have teamed up for a scheme which encourages customers to bring old coats they no longer use into the outlet store in return for 15 per cent off a brand-new one.

The scheme will then see the old coats donated to homeless charities across the UK.

In previous years, more than 3,000 jackets have been donated.

This year, the event launched from Monday, October 7 until Sunday, October 20, to align with National Homelessness Day on October 10.

TOG24 has been working with Swindon homeless charities since 2019TOG24 has been working with Swindon homeless charities since 2019 (Image: Newsquest) "The Swap a Coat campaign started in 2019 and collectively throughout the company we have donated 3275 jackets to local charities," said a spokesperson for TOG24.

"The coats that we receive are donated to a local homeless charity/ charity of each store's choosing and the customers can receive a 15 per cent discount on a new coat as a thank you for their donation."

Despite previously working with Swindon homelessness charity Threshold, this year TOG24's Swindon store has chosen to donate the coats to local charity Alternative Angels this year.

The charity provides homecooked meals, snacks and sandwiches, as well as essential items and services, to those in need in Swindon.

TOG24 manager Steve Sharkey said: “It never fails to amaze me how the community can come together for such a great cause, donating jackets to the store."

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber, you will get:            

  • Unlimited access to the Swindon Advertiser website        
  • Advert-light access             
  • Reader rewards             
  • Full access to our app