Moray and Banffshire Heroes: Clothing charity Moray School Bank named Charitable Organisation of the Year

In a field of many deserving winners, it was Moray School Bank’s support for families and youngsters which saw it crowned Charitable Organisation of the Year at the Moray and Banffshires Heroes awards.

Set up in 2017, Moray School Bank provides school uniforms and winter clothing to hundreds of children and young people across Moray. The charity has supported over 500 children and young people in the last year alone. In 2023, it piloted a pre- loved uniform pop-up shop which has been a huge success.

The Pop-In shop, in the St Giles Shopping Centre, Elgin, is open to everybody who needs it and has school uniforms, jackets, shoes and clothing as well as some items for babies and young children. It is hoped the pilot can be extended beyond March.

Accepting the award, charity member Debi Weir said: "Thank-you so much to everyone who voted. I am absolutely delighted and everyone involved with the school bank will be delighted. The work is done by the team and thanks to the team, they are amazing. This is to the thousands of hours of volunteering hours that they put in. This is for the volunteers, the staff, but most importantly to the families who we support."

Asked how she felt that it had won the award, she answered: "Words can't describe it. The fact is the public voted for this. We're the charity of the year.here in Moray.The people who voted are the people we support. That means the world to me and all our volunteers.”