‘The Exchange’ a project to support families struggling with the cost of living crisis

With support from locally based shipping management company MX Bulk Handling and The Scheinberg Foundation, we are embarking on a project to encourage more people to reuse and repurpose items for children, teens and families.  We hope that this project will enable people to give things that are in good condition, but are no longer needed, to support those families who might not have the means to access both essential and nice to have items for their children.

We began towas see the impacts of the rising costs of living on families during 2022, with a 2022 survey by Island Global Research also showing that 47% of those surveyed during May and June 2022 in the Isle of Man were already struggling, this was before the winter hit.  

The Exchange project was trailed initially in autumn 2022 with a focus on school uniform, then moving onto winter coats and shoes. Over 270 individual items have been distributed already. With the launch of a new website and digital platforms, thanks to some specific funding from the Manx Lottery Trust we have plans to move more help for families online over the next few months.

Support from MX Bulk and The Scheinberg Foundation means we’re are able to provide a part time member of the team to co-ordinate things coming in, sorting everything and then getting out to those who need it. We also hope to expand the items available with specific requests as we understand what is proving most helpful to access.

Joff Whitten, Head of the Children’s Centre said ‘As a UNESCO Biosphere partners we wanted to think of ways we can support families in a sustainable way during these challenging times. We all know that having a family can mean generating a lot of ‘stuff’ weather it’s clothes, baby equipment, sports equipment or toys that are sometimes only used for a very short amount of time. If through our network we can enable things which have taken environmental resources to produce being reused or repurposed in a way that supports others, then we want to do as much as we can about that.

We’re very aware that there are many wonderful charity shops on the island that are also a great place to donate and pick up pre-loved items. However, with our experience of working closely with families there can often be a lack of the things that are specifically needed, a reluctance in wanting to be seen to need to shop there and increasingly the costs of items sold are becoming prohibitive for many.’

In the UK there are more and more library or subscription services to support families where things are only needed for a short time, this is beneficial for everyone not just those on low incomes. Thanks to the support of MX Bulk and The Scheinberg Foundation we hope this is a start to bringing these opportunities to the island.

Anyone with donations or families needing things can find out more at https://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/the-exchange