Pop-up shop helps families cope with rising costs

A project offering free essentials is helping people manage the impact of rising living costs.

In Kettering, Northamptonshire, a monthly pop-up shop run by the LIVE team at Drover's Hall provides donated clothing, toiletries and household goods to people in need.

Customers are given tokens to exchange for up to 10 free items, including school uniforms, workwear, and everyday clothing.

Denise, one of the visitors, said: "I've lost a lot of weight and I need to get some clothes to replace my wardrobe. [The pop-up shop] helps me [financially] because I'm not working at the moment, because I've been unwell."

The initiative is part of a wider service set up by North Northamptonshire Council, which hosts events across Kettering, Wellingborough and Corby.

Emma Reeds, a day centre officer at Kettering LIVE said: "With the cost of living crisis… it's great to be able to give back to a community who might be in need.

[Customers] have told us they've been able to buy food because they've not had to buy essential clothing."

Another customer, Lisa, said she checked it out as she wanted to support her family.

"I heard about it and came along, to get things and help my family. You can choose certain fashion items and get something for someone else in the family while you're here. It's helping," she said.

"LIVE Kettering makes a difference to the community because Kettering is quite a poor town and there isn't a lot of money around, so a lot of people, struggle financially," Denise added.

"We're very grateful for what [LIVE Kettering] do."

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