Homeless people and their dogs in Liverpool will be provided clothes in time for the winter thanks to Virgin Trains.
The train company will donate a range of items including blankets, scarves and dog coats made from old Virgin Train staff uniform to provide a little warmth and comfort.
Clothes which were originally shell jackets, coats, shirts, trousers and suits worn by staff will be given a new lease of life and help people living on the streets of Liverpool.
The upcycled clothes were transformed by prisoners at the HMP Northumberland at their on site textile factory.
The items will either be distributed by Virgin staff at Liverpool Lime Street or will go to local charities to give to the homeless.
The clothes which can't be made into blankets are being made into unbranded dog coats to help homeless people with pet companions.
Some branded dog coats with the Virgin Trains logos will be given to staff in return for a donation with the profits going to charity.
The remainder of the clothes , which are more than six years old will be donated to charity or later recycled.
This initiative follows on from Virgin Trains recent partnership with Change Please Coffee, a social enterprise that empowers people who have experienced homelessness by training them to be baristas.
Jo Buckley, Community Manager at Virgin Trains: “We set ourselves the challenge to be creative and socially responsible with disposing of these old uniforms.
"It’s also a smart and socially responsible way to handle our waste.
“It’s so rewarding to see the re-purposed uniform benefitting those who really need a little warmth and comfort during the winter months and we’re so proud to play a small part in helping the homeless alongside our work with our partners Change Please Coffee.”
