A Derry organisation has launched a winter coat scheme to help vulnerable families stay warm.
Focus Project say that families are wearing coats inside their own homes to stay warm amid the current cost of living crisis.
The organisation say that while this is an immediate and practical help, long-term solutions are required.
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Amie Gallagher, Focus Project co-ordinator said: "Our participants are really worried. It is a sad reality that people will be sitting in their own homes wearing coats and blankets.
"People cannot afford the massive and repeated rises in gas, oil and electricity. It is completely beyond people’s normal budget and they do not have the disposable income to be able to cover the costs. They are having to go cold, there is no other option."
Families in need can pick up winter coats from the Focus Project in Rath Mor, and Amie described the level of support for their winter coat drive as "overwhelming".
She said: "The community and voluntary sector are trying to do what we can to help people but it should not be our job. We are supposed to empower people to reach their full potential, no one can do that if their basic needs are not met.
"We are not talking about luxuries, we are talking about basic needs like food and heating. Your home should be somewhere that is safe and warm. It is the 21st century and the fact that people cannot afford to heat their homes or afford to feed their families nutritionally, is shameful."
"We have been overwhelmed with the response, the donations we have been getting is unbelievable. People genuinely do want to help. On the other hand the need is also very real, people are really responding and everyone is in the same boat this year. It is still not a nice experience seeing mothers feeling like they cannot provide for their children and seeing what that does for their mental health is devastating."
For Focus Project, there needs to be political leadership in combating this cost of living crisis. While some short-term solutions have been offered, there is a need for long-term ideas to be brought forward.
Amie said: "At a local level, Stormont needs to get back up and running. Politicians should be ashamed that they are not working while people are struggling.
"There are hardship payments but they are a temporary solution, there needs to be a more long-term solution through a windfall tax on the big companies that are profiting from this. It is clear from the most recent Tory government budget that they are not prioritising the most vulnerable people.
"I think for people in leadership, they need to come in here and speak to people and hear what they are going through. There is often a disconnect between those in leadership and those on the ground."
Focus Project is funded by St. Stephen's Green Trust and families can avail of the winter coat drive at the Family Room in the Rath Mor centre, Creggan. Those wishing to call into the centre at a quiet time can contact Focus Project Derry on their social media pages.
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