Families in Orkney have been given a welcome boost as children’s shoes have been donated by Russell & Bromley for distribution by Home-Start. The shoes range in size from infant to adolescent.

Erika Copland, Senior Co-ordinator at Home-Start Orkney, said:

“The families we support are so grateful for this wonderful donation of shoes. It will make such a difference.  The cost of living crisis is seeing costs of everyday items, including clothing and shoes, rising and this donation will really help families we support.”

More than 41,000 pairs of children’s shoes have been donated by Russell & Bromley to Home-Start UK in an incredible package of kindness towards parents managing tight budgets.

The shoes have been distributed to hundreds of families across the UK, including parents in the Orkney area after some were delivered to Home-Start Orkney. 

The mammoth shoe donation has been sized up and it was found that if every pair of shoes was lined up, toe to heel, they would stretch for more than five miles – the height of Mount Everest!

Vivien Waterfield, Deputy Chief Executive of Home-Start UK, said:

“Families are already benefitting from the impact of this generous philanthropic gift by Russell & Bromley. It is a really tough time for parents right now. Families who would otherwise struggle to afford new shoes, or have to purchase on a buy now pay later arrangement, can enjoy seeing their children wearing a new pair of shoes without any worry.”

25,000 pairs were delivered to 16 Home-Starts across the London and the south east. A further 3,000 pairs have been delivered to 17 Home-Starts across Scotland and Northern Ireland. The rest are in the process of being distributed to local Home-Starts across the country.

The donation means families supported by Home-Start can enjoy new shoes for their children for free.

A spokesperson from Russell & Bromley, said:

“We pride ourselves in the charity relationships we endeavour to nurture and are delighted that we are able to help Home-Start families in this way and make such a positive impact at the start of this new year.”

Russell & Bromley has been synonymous with expert craftsmanship and fashion-led design since 1880. Specialising in luxury shoes and handbags for men and women, the brand strategically reviewed the continuation of its children’s range in 2021, which led to them wishing to gift their existing stockholding of 41,500 pairs to a good cause.

Home-Start UK began in 1973 in Leicestershire and now has more than 180 Home-Starts across the UK, supporting parents facing issues including postnatal depression, isolation, bereavement, coping with twins, financial worries and physical disabilities. 

Home-Start in Orkney has been supporting families locally for over 20 years.

Through a network of trained volunteers, families are matched with a volunteer who visits once a week for two hours to support in whatever way they need – it could be as simple as holding a crying, colicky baby so a mum can shower in peace, accompanying a mum to a toddler group to help her build confidence, supporting parents with a sick child in hospital or helping with advice around managing budgets.