AO donates washers and dryers to community launderette for struggling families

Photo: (Left to right) Edna Fletcher, Motherwell founder Kate Blakemore and AO corporate communications manager Scott Bennett.

Bolton-based online electricals retailer AO has donated washing machines and tumble dryers to a community launderette that allows struggling families to do their laundry for free, while making friends in the process.

Edna’s Launderette is set to open at New Images Youth and Community Centre in Winsford, Cheshire, after pioneering women’s charity Motherwell scooped £40,000 in Lottery funding.

The facility is named after Edna Fletcher, a volunteer at New Images for more than 30 years, and the aim is to have it up and running before the end of the year.

Motherwell Cheshire founder Kate Blakemore said: “We applied for funding from the People’s Health Trust which uses money raised by Health Lottery North West and were thrilled to hear we have been successful.

The aim is to bring the community together in a very simple way, as they wash their clothes. Everyone’s energy costs have shot up and as well as saving money for families, we hope to beat isolation and bring people together. We are hugely grateful to the Lottery for making this a reality and to our other supporters such as AO.com which has provided washers and dryers.”

The funding will keep the washing machines spinning at Edna’s Laundrette for two years. Other organisations and businesses supporting the initiative include Cheshire Community Foundation, Cheshire College South & West, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation and Storengy gas storage Northwich.

Kate added: “Edna’s Launderette is located within our Winsford baby bank at New Images and is fully inclusive which gives everyone in the community the opportunity to wash and dry their laundry. While they wait, they can socialise in a safe, warm space, have a hot drink and snack, access wi-fi chat with our volunteers and any drop-in support they may require such as debt and money management, health and wellbeing, volunteering and employment.

Initially people can do two free washes and dries a week. The launderette is set out to assist with the cost-of-living squeeze but also for people to use if they have no access to a machine because of financial hardship, to help people who may otherwise feel they have no choice but to get a ‘door-step loan’ to buy a washing machine.”

The laundrette’s namesake Edna, 86, is thrilled. The Winsford great gran said: “New Images is such a happy place, and the laundrette will allow it to support more people. It’s an honour to have it named after me.”

The charity’s satellite hub at New Images offers free baby bundles of clothes and comfort packs and sports bags containing sanitary needs and toiletries as part of its Period Dignity campaign. Its Crewe base acts as a collection centre for donated items and is in big demand for recycled school uniforms and baby necessities.