Help for Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group Staff

The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust is a small charity with a long history of providing financial support to families in the UK fashion and textile industry.

Our grants can help parents and carers facing redundancy from Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group which announced store closures and job losses at its brands Ponden Home and Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Our charity helps the children of UK fashion and textile employees who are struggling financially. It's why our charity was founded back in 1853.

What we fund: Our grants fund items which are essential for children's health and wellbeing. These might be items you were planning to buy, but now can't due to lost wages.

These might include:

• Essential clothing, e.g. seasonal clothing and school uniform and PE kit
• Baby essentials, e.g. clothing or equipment
• Children's bedroom furniture, e.g. beds, bedding, clothes storage furniture (chest of drawers)
• Essential White Goods, e.g. replacing a broken appliance such as fridge/freezer, washing machine, cooker/oven.
• Specialist items for children with additional needs, e.g. sensory toys, adaptive clothing or SEN adapted computers

All items will be considered at the discretion of the grants team.

We're sorry but we can't fund household bills, food costs or replace lost income. If you're struggling to cover the cost of household bills or food, find out what government support is available to replace lost income and help with bill costs .

By funding the other essential items your children need, we hope to free up money during this difficult time and give you one less thing to worry about.

If you need help with household bills, once you have made your enquiry we will signpost you to other charities who may be able to help with these.

We might be able to help your family if:

• You are a parent or carer of a child (aged 0-18 years).
• AND you have been working for an Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group brand for at least one year.
• OR previously worked an Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group brand within the last nine years.

If you do not have at least one year employment at an Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group brand, you might still be able to apply if you have worked for another fashion and textile company within the last nine years. How our grants can help your family: Our grants can fund essential items for your children such as school uniform and clothing for the year ahead, or essential household items. It doesn't matter where you work in the business, from store, to head office and distribution.

You might want to apply for a grant if:

• You are already struggling financially (in arrears on your household bills or have debt) OR
• You have limited savings to cover your current and any future loss of earnings