Scottish outdoor clothing manufacturer The Ootsider is aiming to donate 1000 sleeping coats to the homeless by next June.
The Livingston-based social enterprise celebrates its third year in business in 12 months, and founder John Keogh is determined to mark the occasion by hitting the milestone.
Since setting up the Community Interest Company in 2022 following a chance encounter with a homeless person in Glasgow, John, a retired head of engineering at Jabil Electronics, has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those forced to sleep rough in the streets.
His company hand-makes premium quality waterproof, windproof and fleece-lined changing robes and equestrian coats.
It reinvests all net profits from those sales to fund the production of the sleeping coats, which are then distributed to vulnerable people who are sleeping rough.
The garments are ethically produced in Scotland, in-house, using materials purchased from UK suppliers.
Since the Ootsider production line first burst into life, 250 of the specially designed coats have been given away to those most in need.
That total is set to quadruple in the coming year, with John saying: “The Ootsider is a Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to making a positive social impact through the provision of practical assistance for anyone whose life and wellbeing is at risk by sleeping in a place not designed to be habitable.
“We understand the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough, particularly when sleeping in adverse weather conditions.
“We developed an innovative and unique sleeping coat designed specifically to meet the practical needs and enhance the well-being and dignity of rough sleepers.
“There are thousands of folks rough sleeping across the UK, and with the current housing crisis and economic climate, this number will only increase.
The Ootsider funds its sleeping coats for rough sleepers by reinvesting all net profits from the sale of changing robes and equestrian coats, as well as through donations.
The company ensures that 100% of donation money goes directly towards manufacturing and distributing these sleeping coats to homeless individuals across the UK.
John, named Local Hero 2024 at the Midlothian and East Lothian Business Awards earlier this year for his work with the homeless community, added: “We aim to reduce vulnerability and risk by keeping people warm, dry and comfortable whilst they are living on the streets.
“Our organisation has been established to offer direct practical support and protect the physical and mental health, safety, welfare, dignity and well-being of vulnerable, rough-sleeping homeless or displaced people by donating new, high-quality, protective garments to those who need them.
“We are committed to changing lives for the better and to support and empower individuals to improve their own situation.
