How a city centre clothes rail is now helping the homeless in Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Every Saturday lunchtime, 24-year-old Ella Durant carries a clothes rail to Piccadilly Gardens. She fills it up with winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves and any other protective clothing that could make a difference to someone living on the streets.

The rail is joined by a sign which reads: ‘If you are cold? Take one. If you would like to help? Leave one.’ Read more: 'Unique' Didsbury Library to get a makeover and close for a month The rail is the newest part of the country-wide ‘Take One Leave One’ initiative where individuals set up clothing rails and encourage people to donate winter clothing for those in need.

Ella set up the rail in January after seeing its success while she was at university in Leeds. Since moving to Manchester, she decided to help her community however she could and setting up a rail was an obvious choice to her.

She said: “I basically set up a take one, leave one rail in Manchester, there’s never been one in Manchester before. “It started in London and now it’s all over the country. “I saw they started a rail in Leeds last year and I thought, wow that’s really nice, such a good thing to do. “I wanted to help the community, I just wanted to help people in the small way that I can.” Since starting the rail two weeks ago, Ella has already given out nearly 20 coats to people in need and even more other accessories including gloves and hats.