iVisit... Wrap Up London

Wrap Up London is Hands On London’s annual coat collection campaign. Every November, the campaign brings together hundreds of Londoners willing to give a few hours of their time to receive coats as they are donated, sort them and help with their distribution to homeless, elderly and refugee charities across the city. Last November, over 1,200 people gave their time to collect over 27,000 warm coats and distribute them to over 100 charities.

Now entering its 10th Year, Wrap Up London has become one of the largest winter volunteering events in the city and a true celebration of just what can be achieved when people are willing to give their time.

Sadly the number of people living in crisis in the city is rising, particularly those who are young and homeless. Many people will suffer over the coming winter months. Wrap Up London shows the power that Londoners have when they come together as a community to help those most in need. A person’s spare coat and your time can not only help keep a person warm, it can help save their life.

This year, Wrap Up London will look a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is needed now more than ever. The main coat collection will take place in Safestore locations across London between 9th – 14th November. The collection spaces are Covid-19 safe and have track and trace in place. We ask donors to wear their masks when donating coats and also maintain social distancing. Donors can drop their coats to the coat collection points whilst out exercising, on the school run, or on the way to do an essential shop.

Distribution of the coats takes place from the 15th – 25th November. Coats are quarantined for 48 hours after donation. Volunteers then sort the coats whilst wearing PPE and maintaining social distancing. We then recommend to our charity partners to quarantine the coats for a further 48 hours before they give them to their clients.