A HAVEN for asylum seekers in Glasgow has issued an appeal for more winter clothes as the number of refugees referred to them is increasing rapidly.
Maslow’s Community Shop in Govan is where many refugees are sent by the Red Cross and social workers when they arrive in the city, often with absolutely nothing.
Director of the three-year-old store, retired social worker Carol Gilchrist, said: “These people who come to us are given £37 a week to live on.
“That must cover their food, their travel, everything.”
Once they arrive at Maslow’s, refugees are given a free bag of toiletries, new underwear and a £20 voucher to spend in the shop which sells cheap clothes and household goods donated by the public.
“All of our shop rails are emptied by the people with vouchers and then refilled by our volunteers at least three times a day,” said Mrs Gilchrist.
“Our entire rail of jackets will be gone by 10am every morning, that’s why we need donations of warm clothes now more than ever,” she added.
Maslow’s is ‘more than just a charity shop’, and runs English classes every Monday afternoon; drum classes ever Wednesday evening and has recently applied for funding to run up-cycling workshops to reduce wastage.
Holidays and festivals are celebrated as much as possible within the store, where Halloween and Christmas parties have proved a huge success over the past two years.
It also acts as an information point by advising people where they should go for driving lessons, medical information, food banks and cheap furniture.
Although the community shop is predominantly used by refugees, it strives to help people from all backgrounds, and welcomes anyone who may have found themselves in vulnerable situations due to universal credit, benefit refusals, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Maslow’s welcomes donations of all shapes and sizes and is also hoping to raise money for a night out for its volunteers, who are mainly refugees and not permitted to work in this country, no matter what their skills.
Mrs Gilchrist explained: “We have people volunteering for us who are qualified doctors, technical assistants and others who are trained in skilled jobs.
“All we can give them is £5 a week to cover travel costs, they are not allowed to be employed.”
All contributions can be handed into the shop Monday to Thursday, 10am until 4pm, and the same hours on Sunday.
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