A mum who couldn’t afford to replace her son’s torn school trousers has opened a community shop in South Shields’ former WHSmith store to help families stock up on essential items. 
Freema Chambers, 48, has opened the ‘Community School Clothing Scheme,’ in the unit on King Street to provide families with free school uniforms for their children, whatever their circumstances.
Parents can also loan essential items such as cots and prams for their babies and young children for free, returning the items when they are no longer needed.