Wadebridge fire station adds third clothing bank, a Cornwall first

Three big yellow banks now stand in a row outside the station, and staff reckon nobody else in the county can say the same.

A third bank added to keep pace with donations

Wadebridge Community Fire Station has installed a third clothing and shoe bank on site, saying the sheer volume of donations coming in left them needing the extra capacity. The station believes it could be the first in Cornwall to run three separate banks at one address.

Rather than turn people away when the existing two banks filled up, the station opted to add a third. It puts the move down to the strength of support from the local community, calling it fantastic and something they wanted to build on rather than cap.

Where the donations actually go

Clothing and footwear dropped into the banks are collected, sorted, and either reused or recycled, keeping unwanted textiles out of landfill. Anything that cannot be reused is processed for recycling instead.

The scheme also raises funds for The Fire Fighters Charity, which supports serving and retired firefighters and their families with physical, mental and social wellbeing when they need it most.

How to donate

Anyone having a clear-out is asked to remember the three yellow banks at the station. Clothes and shoes should be bagged before they go in, and the station has asked donors not to leave bags on the ground outside if a bank is already full.

📷Credit: Wadebridge Community Fire Station