Food banks have become a familiar community-based response to food insecurity in cities like Newcastle, but now a Jesmond clothes bank aims to help people in need of an extra layer or two this winter.

Take One Leave One (TOLO) Newcastle, launched last week by Daniel Ormonde and Dale Nilsen at the As You Like It bar and restaurant on Archbold Terrace, is offering free winter coats, waterproof jackets, hats, jackets, scarfs, gloves and blankets, all contributed by donors for anyone in need.

The idea is simple: If you are cold, take an item of clothing. If you can help, leave one. Ormonde and Nilsen say everyone is welcome to drop off any clean, winter clothes that they no longer need or use. Within just a couple of days of opening, the pair had already received four bin bags full of clothes.

Ormonde and Nilsen say they are trusting donors to leave only clothes that are clean and in good condition. “I feel like with the current climate there is more mutual respect and understanding. There is no worth in not trusting people,” Ormonde told JesmondLocal.

TOLO is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am until 3pm and will carry on until the end of February.

The first TOLO clothes bank was opened in London by journalist Stefan Simanowitz during the winter of 2019. Now there are TOLOs in more than 30 UK towns and cities. Ormonde and Nilsen say they were inspired to follow suit after struggling to find volunteer jobs because of the pandemic.