Volunteers have come together to help families with uniform costs.
As the cost of living crisis continues to grip households across the UK, many families will be finding themselves in financial hardship. But communities are pulling together to do what they can to ease the pressures.
School uniforms can be an added expense for those already struggling but are they worth the costs? The ECHO previously reported the Department for Education announced guidance for schools to keep uniforms costs reasonable, and ensure parents get the best value for money.
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One project in Halewood, called Halewood Uni-Wise, recycles pre-loved uniforms and distributes them to families in the town. Set up three years ago, the project continues to be a huge success.
Volunteer Alison Shacklady told the ECHO: "During the lockdown we realised there were all these school uniforms children had grown out of and were practically new so we asked for donations and we started, what is essentially, a recycling scheme. It's open to anyone and we've been very lucky this year to get funding from Redrow, the town council and Asda so we can buy some items new.
"Through this, you realise how expensive school uniforms are. I'd like to start a campaign to stop schools from having logos, although they may look nice, you can pick up items in school colours from the supermarkets for really cheap. But because they insist on school logos, they are very expensive.
"In these times, more people are struggling. This scheme isn't for people in need, it's not for us to judge, it's for anyone to come along, it's open to anyone. But with prices rising everywhere, it can be a struggle."
Run solely by volunteers, Halewood Uni-Wise, is open at St Nicholas’ Centre Halewood every Saturday until August 20, for people to choose and collect items for free from 10am until 12pm. But anyone with requests can contact the team via their Facebook page.
Alison added: "Halewood is a very caring community anyway, people go out of their way to help one another and this project is certainly an opportunity to recycle things and also save from landfill, but it helps those who are struggling.
"I feel like I've got a PHD on local school uniforms and PE kits. People request a kit and I have to go looking for it and when you see the price of things sometimes you think wow. Some items have to be bought from specialist retailers, in some schools you need a kilt, you can't just have a navy blue skirt.
"I've been in with a uniform list as long as my arm, the prices are phenomenal. Especially in primary schools when kids are still growing so need a school uniform more regularly, which is where this scheme comes in, reducing that cost."
Halewood Uni-Wise has recently received £500 from Redrow’s Halewood Community Fund which was launched to help community groups, charities or other good causes based in, or serving, the area around the housebuilder’s two new developments.
Alison added: "We have found that some items, particularly school blazers, sports and PE kit and larger size shirts and trousers are harder to come by from the donated of items we receive. So, we do have to buy these in order to help families who are struggling. The money we received from Redrow has gone towards purchasing these items, so we are hugely grateful for this funding. We also accept any donated items, so if anyone does have any unwanted uniform, we would gladly accept it."
Sian Pitt, sales director at Redrow Lancashire, said: "The volunteers do a wonderful job here at Halewood Uni-Wise, helping families with school aged children. And of course, they are also helping to reduce the number of items heading to landfill. We are very happy to support this project in the heart of the Halewood community."
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