Budding entrepreneurs are being asked to come forward to help a charity clothing collection group expand across Scotland.

Clothes Aid, which recently announced it had raised more than £500,000 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), is looking for people to become franchisees, so it can help even more charities throughout the country and beyond.

Since Clothes Aid partnered with CHAS in 2009, generous Scottish residents have donated more than 7,000 tonnes of clothing in aid of the charity, via the organisation’s bag collection service. But more fully licensed franchise partners are needed to help it fundraise through these door to door collections.

Steve Jenkinson, Franchise Manager at Clothes Aid, explained: “Our limited franchise opportunity offers local entrepreneurs the chance to build their own business, with a fantastic social purpose, and they’ll be backed all the way with full training, and the help and support of an experienced and substantial organisation.

“Our model is very simply. Franchisees run a team or teams who carry out the distribution and collection of charity bags to targeted areas and households within their specific area. Each team van typically carries at least a tonne of clothing at a time, and homes are visited every three to four weeks.”

Collectively, Clothes Aid has raised more than £10 million for UK charities to date, including NSPCC, Macmillan Cancer Support and Make-A-Wish UK, through fully licenced door to door collections, in strict adherence to fundraising regulations. The organisation also works closely with the Waste and Recycling Action Programme (WRAP), and is committed to reducing the 350,000 tonnes of clothes that are sent to UK landfill every year.  

From Clothes Aid’s East Kilbride depot, more than 50,000 CHAS bags are delivered every month across Scotland, ultimately helping children and families to receive palliative care, family respite and support both at home, and at its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross, and Robin House, in Balloch.   

Jonathan Clegg, community fundraiser for the charity, said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed at the fantastic amount raised by Clothes Aid and can't thank the team enough for their continued support. This is a big year for CHAS; there are 15,400 children and young people in Scotland with a life-shortening condition and we are determined to be there for all of those children and their families.

“Every penny raised by Clothes Aid will help us keep the joy alive for families facing the most difficult time imaginable, by ensuring that no matter how short the time they have together may be, it is filled with happiness." 

Michael Lomotey, Clothes Aid’s business manager, said “We are delighted to have reached such a landmark figure for CHAS and are dedicated to ensuring that we continue to make a positive impact and their incredible work, and that of other charities across Scotland and beyond.

“To become a franchisee, you just need to be fit and healthy and happy to work outdoors. This fantastic opportunity will give you financial security and independence, while helping to support some of the country’s leading charities.”