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Organizations providing assistance to families struggling with the cost of school uniforms are reporting a surge in demand this summer.
This comes after government figures released earlier this year indicated that the average cost of a school uniform is just over £340 for primary school children and approximately £454 for secondary school students.
Research published this month by the charity Parentkind suggests that 30% of parents are forgoing food or heating to afford uniforms, while 45% are relying on credit cards.
Erin Aston, from Telford Crisis Support, stated, “If somebody can’t afford food, they might not be able to afford other items like uniform.”
The charity operates a scheme that has been providing free school uniforms to children in the Telford area since 2019, experiencing year-on-year growth.
In its inaugural year, the scheme received 125 requests. However, Ms. Aston, the charity’s coordinator, reported that this year, they received 320 requests in August alone, with a similar number in July, marking these two months as the busiest.
The charity receives support from the local authority, as well as various businesses and community groups.
Ms. Aston noted that purchasing school uniforms can be expensive, especially branded items such as blazers and PE kits, which are often in short supply at the charity.
However, she indicated that upcoming legislation, set to be implemented next year, which will limit the number of branded items schools can require parents to buy, would provide significant relief.
Zoe Turner runs a similar scheme in nearby Shifnal, collecting donated school uniforms and distributing them for a nominal donation of £1 per item.
She established Uniforms Together at the beginning of the year, initially to assist parents with the cost of Scouts uniform, which she noted was in limited supply at charity shops.
She has received support from Woods, a local dry cleaner, which cleans the clothing and serves as a collection point, and from St Andrew’s Church, which provides venues for sales.
Ms. Turner reported that 236 items were sold during her first sale in April, with another 370 items snapped up this summer. Another sale is scheduled for next month, with all proceeds benefiting local church groups for children.
She noted that her group has become “really busy” and is now accepting donations for schools outside of Shifnal.
Her next initiative involves offering prom dresses and costumes for World Book Day. However, storage space has become a challenge, prompting her to appeal to local businesses for available space.
Wolverhampton City Credit Union provides a different form of support.
Since last year, it has been offering to match, pound-for-pound, the first £75 deposited into one of its child savings accounts.
This additional money can then be used to purchase school uniforms.
Antoinette Kelly, who manages the scheme, stated her belief that “Every child deserves the chance to have a new uniform on the first day of term.”
Last year, the scheme supported 340 children, and Ms. Kelly noted that it has been “super, super busy” this summer.
The scheme is funded by the city council, and Ms. Kelly anticipates that demand this year will surpass last year’s levels. She emphasized that utilizing such offers is preferable for families compared to incurring debt through loans.
She also noted the presence of numerous second-hand uniform banks in Wolverhampton, located at community centers and churches throughout the city.
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