A Scots shop owner has been handing out free 'sleeping pods' for homeless people in a bid to save lives this winter.
Gerard McKenzie-Govan, 41, runs the Blankfaces nonprofit clothing shop in Glasgow's West End which also doubles up as a drop in centre for those in need.
He ordered a batch of the pods after hearing they were being made by inmates at Addiewell Prison in West Lothian and hopes they will play a part in helping people survive the cold streets of Glasgow and the most gruelling time of the year for those with nowhere else to go.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Gerard said: "We have already given out a few of the sleeping pods since we started stocking them last week.
"We've had great feedback from homeless charities working on the streets. They are saying that the pods are being put to good use and are easy to carry around and construct.
"They come in a rucksack with a bamboo frame and are simple to fold down and pop up again.
"There is insulation inside them and they are waterproof on the outside.
"We think they could save lives this winter and are giving them out free of charge to anyone wanting them."
The Blankfaces is the UK's first fashion brand aimed at ending homelessness. The store sells merchandise designed by someone who is homelessness or has experienced homelessness. The designer then gets a percentage of each product sold.
At the end of the year, all the money generated goes back into grassroots homeless charities across Glasgow.
Gerard's charitable efforts started when his mum Margaret passed away in 2018 and he wanted to do something in her memory.
Margaret volunteered in Africa before Gerard was born but she then settled in Ayrshire and started up her own homeless hostel.
Gerard said that growing up in that environment and learning from the example set by his mum has made him the man he is today.
He continued: "When my mum died I decided I had to do something to carry on her good work.
"I started out just going down to the Lodging House Mission in Glasgow and hanging around with the guys and doing what I could to help.
"I got the idea to start designing clothes and donate the profits to homeless causes from speaking to people down there. It started off with a few t-shirts and the shop eventually evolved from that."
Gerard's Glasgow shop opened in 2020 and this year, after launching a pop-up store in Manchester, he is proud to be able to support more people than ever before.
He added: "We just want to try and reach more and more people in need. Homeless people are our focus, our priority and the reason why we exist."
HMP Addiewell have been making the pods since 2021 and have already distributed hundreds throughout Scotland.
Fraser Munro, Prison Director, said: “HMP Addiewell is proud to be supporting the most vulnerable members of our society through our work with the charity, Sleep Pods, who design one-person emergency shelters for rough sleepers in severe weather conditions.
“We’re really delighted with our colleagues and prisoners who have gone above and beyond to support this important initiative - many prisoners are all too aware of the issues surrounding homelessness and are keen to help.”
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