The ‘Wrap Up London’ 2017 campaign which involved wrapping up iconic statues to encourage people to donate coats to the homeless, refugees and other support centres. Picture: Sense London

Do you have a coat that is rarely worn? Or have one that doesn’t fit you anymore? Thinking of having a big clear out before the Christmas sales?

Now is the time to banish these from your wardrobe and help London’s homeless and refuge keep warm this Winter.

Taking place at London Bridge tube station from November 12 to November 14, the ‘Wrap Up London’ campaign aims to collect as many of your old, unwanted coats as possible, distributing them to over 100 London-based charities and community organisations. These include homeless shelters, refugee centres, organisations supporting the elderly, women’s refugees and children’s centres, said a spokesperson for the campaign.

Run by the charity ‘Hands On London’ since 2010, the campaign has a huge support network behind it, with over 800 volunteers giving up their time each year to help and 150 companies sponsoring the campaign and providing year-round services and support.

Veronica Beserve, 25, a Communications and PR freelancer, volunteered on the ‘Wrap Up London’ campaign last year and decided to participate again this year at Victoria station. She said that “seeing so many people come together to help others is amazing and so heart-warming”.

The bags are coming in fast and heavy! Let’s keep going and keep as many people as possible warm this winter @WrapUpLondon. We’re in the tube station at Victoria #WrapUpLondon pic.twitter.com/RBi94v3bAh

— Veronica Beserve (@SAVE5Project) 14 November 2018

Last year, the campaign received approximately 5,000 coats due to the increased awareness created through the wrapping up of the city’s most exposed residents – its famous statues. This year, “we are hoping to double this figure”, the spokesperson said.

As well as donating your coat at London Bridge station, ‘Wrap Up London’ will also be at Canary Wharf, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Victoria and Waterloo tube stations from 7am to 11am.

Coats can also be donated at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster and Safestores in Chiswick, Clapham, Notting Hill and Kings Cross.

If you are interested in volunteering in helping keep the vulnerable warm this winter, please sign up at wulvolunteers@handsonlondon.org.uk.