SMILE London & Essex
19 February 2023 – “And she saw the world not always as it was, but as perhaps it could be, with just a little bit of magic. It’s a wrap for SMILE London & Essex annual pop-up prom dress boutique, providing free and low-cost beautiful gowns for low-income and struggling families. Your Sal’s stiletto Shoes shall go to the ball. Whilst we predominantly find new feet for preloved children’s shoes and do not collect heels, we were delighted to be able to help support the event this year thanks to a local appeal for prom appropriate shoes and donations by Aruna Seth and Manuka Shoes”
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
13 January 2023 – “Finding new feet Friday. Your Sal’s Shoes have been chosen by their new owners at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Drop-in for Asylum Seeker Families – which extends a monthly warm welcome to families who have been made destitute while seeking asylum in the U.K.
Guests are offered a safe and welcoming environment in which to relax, a hot and nutritious meal, a supervised children’s play area, good quality preloved clothing, nappies, a shopping contribution, a small travel reimbursement . . . and Sal’s Shoes.
Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you. There is nothing more stifling to a person’s identity than having to wear clothes and shoes that are not ‘them’. Children are experts in their own lives and even they have a strong sense of what style of clothing suits theirs personality and personal preference. Decent clothes and shoes can add a sense of pride and dignity. There are 8 factors related to dignity identified by the Social Care Institute for Excellence. Choice and control is one of them.”
Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group
10 December 2022 – “Thanks to a generous donation of new larger sized Sal’s Shoes, new owners are being found in immigration detention thanks to the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group. Many have recently arrived from crossing the channel, and do not have a pair of shoes at all. Many are often detained with only the clothes they are wearing, which may be inappropriate for detention – particularly if they were detained in the middle of the night from their homes.
In 2021, just under 24,500 people were detained in the UK under immigration powers. When people are detained under immigration powers, they are held for administrative purposes in prison-like detention centres, with no time limit. The UK is the only country in Europe with no time limit on immigration detention.
Anyone who does not (yet) have leave to remain in the UK is liable to be detained. This includes people who have claimed asylum, people who do not have valid visas, and people facing deportation after contact with the criminal justice system. Some people in detention have arrived in the UK recently; some have lived in the UK for many years, and may have families and children here.
The majority of people who are detained are released back into the community. Of the people detained in 2019, over 50% were detained for over a month, with 167 people detained over 6 months and 37 people over a year.”
The Guinness Partnership
6 December 2022 – This week is a restocking the shelves week at St Paul’s Centre in Crewe, the location of one of our Sal’s Shoes Shops – where families in need, via referral, can enjoy the experience of a shopping trip, trying on and choosing their shoes, without having to pay for their footwear.
Big Leaf Foundation & Love The Ball Coaching
22 November 2022 – “Your Sal’s Shoes football boots are back on the pitch in Surrey thanks to Big Leaf Foundation – whose vision is of a community where displaced young people are valued, supported and given the ability to create better outcomes for themselves.
Working with LovetheBall Coaching and the Chelsea Foundation, Big Leaf provide regular weekly football sessions in both Guildford and Redhill. These sessions offer local displaced young people the chance to socialise, be part of a community, participate in regular exercise and practice English, all while playing a sport they love.”
Boiler House Spaces The Guinness Partnership
20 November 2022 – “Your Sal’s Shoes have been finding their new owners at Northwold Community Centre in Hackney, one of our 7 ‘shops’ nationwide, where families in need, via referral, can enjoy the experience of a shopping trip and choosing their shoes without having to pay for their ‘purchases’. So many of us take buying a new pair of shoes for granted. Increasingly too many of us can’t afford to.”
The LJS Drop-In
11 October 2022 – “Your Sal’s winter Shoes have been finding their new feet at The LJS Drop-in for Asylum Seeker Families in London where a warm welcome is extended to families who have been made destitute while seeking asylum.
Guests are offered a safe and welcoming environment in which to relax, a hot and nutritious meal, a supervised children’s play area, good quality preloved clothing, Sal’s Shoes, nappies, a shopping contribution, and a travel reimbursement. The Drop-in is operated entirely by volunteers.”
Little Green Sock Project
6 October 2022 – A third of children in Greater Manchester are living in poverty, over 11,000 of these children live in Trafford. Little Green Sock Project help reduce the financial burden of clothing for families in need, by reusing and gifting clothing and children’s items. In the last 48 hours they’ve had 14 requests for bundles of winter clothing. Thanks to your donations, Sal’s Shoes will also be finding their new feet.
Breightmet Wanders AFC
5 October 2022 – You didn’t come this far, to only come this far. Your pre-played in football boots are about to get back on the pitch in Bolton thanks to Breightmet Wanderers AFC who are seeing kids weekly unable to play due to not having boots that fit them. Last week they had a player unable to play due to ill fitting boots being too painful to play in and his parents not being in the position to purchase another pair. ‘I’m sure there’s many more in the same position who won’t speak up and we just want to be able to put a smile back on these kid’s faces’ – Welfare Officer.
The Baby Bank
7 September 2022 – “Thanks to your ongoing monetary donations to our School Shoes Fund over 200 pairs of new school shoes and PE trainers have been going back to school this week on the feet of children within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas as supported by The Baby Bank.
We can’t have all work and no play so an additional 90 pairs of regular Sal’s Shoes will also be finding their feet.”
First Day's Children's Charity
3 August 2022 – A pair of twins all set for their first day at school in September in their new Sal’s school Shoes – shoes from our School Shoes Fund have been finding their owners with First Days Children’s Charity giving choice, restoring dignity and empowering families who are living with a low income or are experiencing financial hardship.
Little Green Sock Project
10 June 2022 – “Sal’s Shoes are setting off in Trafford as part of a Little Green Sock Project bundle – a bundle of spring/summer wear for a family in financial crisis, to help ease the pressure of the basic need of clothing, so that they can concentrate on the other basics.
A third of children in Greater Manchester are living in poverty, over 11,000 of these children live in Trafford. These bundles help ease some of the financial pressure faced by families and are distributed via referral partners; professionals already supporting families in financial crisis, such as health visitors, midwives and community support groups.
Thanks to your ongoing support of our School Shoes Fund, a supply of school shoes are also already in situ ready for the run up to September and the start of the new academic year, for those students in need of a helping hand to have that extra spring in their step.”
UK
8 June 2022 – “Because feet come in all shapes and sizes. Thankfully so do your Sal’s Shoes. Your larger sized Sal’s Shoes have been finding their new owners in London thanks to ShowerBox who have created a free and secure shower space for the street and hidden homeless. Almost 9,000 people sleep rough every year in London. Many go weeks or even months without a shower. ShowerBox helps those who are homeless maintain good personal hygiene, build confidence, increase motivation and stop the spread of preventable diseases.
Your smaller sized Sal’s Shoes have been finding their new owners with Gratitude Kids Corner who provide support to hundreds of young families through the redistribution of baby/toddler essentials, kids clothes, shoes, toys, and arts & crafts in Borehamwood, Herts. ‘Just would like to say a big thank you for the lovely shoes. My 8-year-old daughter loves them. They are super lightweight and very comfortable. As a disabled mum, it’s a big help for us, as I am not able to work at the moment because of my health condition.’”
Little Green Sock Project
12 May 2022 – Emergency preloved clothing bundles being sent out to children in need in Trafford including a pair of Sal’s Shoes thanks to Little Green Sock Project, who aim to reduce the effects of child poverty in their area.
Sebby's Corner
11 May 2022 – “Thanks to your support over 100 pairs of Sal’s Shoes have found their new owners at Sebby’s Corner.
Ukraine Hub, amongst recently arrived families, in the last month”
Community Clothes Bank
29 April 2022 – It’s been a finding new feet Friday amongst families in need in Kent thanks to Community Clothes Bank.
The Soup Kitchen
16 March 2022 – Sal’s larger sized Shoes have been finding their adult feet at The Soup Kitchen at American International Church a resource for the homeless, elderly, lonely and vulnerable in London. They provide free nutritious meals, clothing, toiletries and a sense of belonging to over 150 people each day. They also recently launched Europe’s first ever on-site mental health drop-in centre within a soup kitchen to address their guests mental health needs.
Their Voice
14 March 2022 – “Click your heels together three times and say ‘There’s no place like home’ – Wizard of Oz.
Two beautiful girls have just been rescued, here in the U.K. by Their Voice – Empowering Survivors of Modern Slavery after being trafficked and living a life of modern slavery. Both have had the most horrid time and are understandably missing their homeland terribly. Their Voice managed to get them some traditional Indian dresses and all they needed was some pumps to make their outfits complete. Your Sal’s Shoes have found their new feet.”
The Soup Kitchen
1 March 2022 – Your Sal’s larger sized Shoes are finding their feet this week with – The Soup Kitchen at American International Church who help support the homeless, elderly, lonely and vulnerable in London. ShowerBox who create a free and secure shower space for the street and hidden homeless in London and amongst asylum seekers currently living at Napier barracks near Folkestone.
The Guinness Partnership
26 February 2022 – “This week your Sal’s Shoes have been setting off to restock the shelves at 2 of the 3 Sal’s Shoes ‘shops’ we opened with The Guinness Partnership last year.
To a child in need of crisis or ongoing assistance especially when their peers may not be, extreme poverty can be undignified. Decent clothes and shoes can add a sense of pride and dignity. As can the ability to make choices. Last year, working in partnership with Guinness we were able to open 3 Sal’s Shoes ‘shops’ at St Paul’s Centre in Crewe, Emmaus Salford and at The Boiler House in Hackney.
Families in need, via a referral system, are able to visit the shops where they can enjoy the experience of shoe ‘shopping’ and choosing their own shoes without having to pay for their purchases.”
The Boiler House
1 February 2022 – So many of us swap our shoes according to the seasons. Too many of us can’t afford to. Thanks to the support of The Guinness Partnership and the Sal’s Shoes ‘shop’ at The Boiler House N16 [1 of 3 we opened last year working via referral], Sal’s sturdy Shoes are replacing summer shoes given the sudden, super cold spell and at no cost to their new owner.
Care4Calais
31 January 2022 – Monday morning and thanks to your ongoing monetary donations to our School Shoes Fund, Sal’s new school Shoes are starting school this week, amongst recently arrived refugee children in Slough.
London
October 2020, this week your Sal’s larger sized Shoes have been warming up feet with: – the U.K. operations of https://care4calais.org amongst refugees and asylum seekers in London still having to wear flip flops despite the weather because it’s the only footwear they have
And
– https://theirvoicemodernslavery.org.uk working securely and confidentially in partnership with other organisations providing practical gifts and support for survivors of modern slavery in Kent, Surrey & Greater London – flip flops for the hospital bags provided for heavily pregnant women recently rescued from sexual exploitation and larger sized shoes for women rescued from human trafficking and modern day slavery and recently housed in safe accommodation.
London
September 2020, This week thanks to your donations to our School Shoes Fund, Sal’s Shoes have been giving vulnerable children starting school at https://leyf.org.uk Nurseries in London 🇬🇧 an extra spring in their step 👣
Lewisham, South London
March 2020, your Sal’s Shoes trainers have been finding their new feet amongst teenagers in Lewisham, a London borough in South London 🏴 thanks to https://www.youthfirst.org.uk
Hackney, North East London
December 2019, your Sal’s Shoes were finding their new feet at Santa’s Grotto on the De Beauvoir Estate – a council estate in De Beauvoir town, a district of Hackney, North East London courtesy of https://thecrib.org.uk/ 🇬🇧 The Crib was initially formed to address anti social behaviour and a recognised deficiency of youth provision in the Shoreditch neighbourhood. It was known as the Hoxton Community Safety Project, before the young people it was working with changed the name to The Crib, meaning they felt at home. The Crib empowers children, young people and young adults to reach their highest potential and be agents of positive social change 🤝
Central London
In October 2019 – It was setting off to find new feet in the UK 🇬🇧 📦
Our surplus of your larger sized men’s shoes will be finding their new feet at The Soup Kitchen http://amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen a resource for the homeless, elderly, lonely and poor in Central London 👣
Scotland
Thanks to a generous donation from https://www.timberland.co.uk, Sal’s sturdy Shoes started finding their new feet in Scotland with https://www.findingyourfeet.net who support families affected by amputation or limb difference in December 2017.
Thanks to a generous donation from https://www.timberland.co.uk, these Sal’s Shoes are being put to good use in the current weather conditions in Scotland 🏴 with https://www.findingyourfeet.net who support families affected by amputation or limb difference ❄️
