AS the controversy surrounding free meals for children continues, a coat collecting organisation has been launched to ensure that kids are also warm enough to learn.

Put Your Big Coat On was set up in November with a focus on providing children with coats who might otherwise be without, so they could attend school without suffering from the effects of winter weather.

To date around 100 coats have been donated to the cause, and more than £4,000 has been raised online, meaning roughly a further 100 coats can be purchased.

Debra Howard from Shaftesbury was inspired to set up the coat project following the work of footballer Marcus Rashford, as well as her own experiences in London where she had previously travelled for work.

“It came about from my working in London - the area I’m based in is considered this wonderful, beautiful, English heritage place, but you go along to the next street and it deteriorates rapidly. Only half the children around are wearing coats,” she said.

“It just got me thinking that when you’re that cold you can’t start the day and learn.

“Turning up at school cold, wet and hungry - you wouldn’t be able to think straight.

“Those not performing well could very well be because they are cold, and that is so simple to solve.”

Within 24 hours of the appeal coming to life, coats and money were already being donated.

Sixty of the coats were distributed to those in need in the Westminster area, and the remainder is currently being delivered to local families and causes including food banks and women’s refuges.

Debra said she is “overwhelmed with the generosity of the community”, adding: “I don’t want this lockdown to stop the momentum.”

She said: “We all have coats and know how important they are. This is a simple way to help and it can be such an improvement to a child’s life.

“We’ve made the important link between food and education, now we need to focus on warmth and education too.

“We started by just asking for £20 [donations] for at least a contribution towards a coat, [the response] has just been fantastic.

“Some might now even have to wear their coats indoors just to be warm while working from home. It’s not just about wearing a coat, it’s everything that comes after that.”

For more information and to donate to Put Your Big Coat On visit its Just Giving page or email putyourbigcoaton@outlook.com