The School Bank West Lothian is appealing for sponsors as it prepares to enter its busiest time of the year.
The call comes after it received more than double the amount of referrals as this time last year.
The volunteer-led group aims to support families experiencing financial hardship by providing them with a brand new school uniform as well as other clothing and equipment required for school.
In May this year, 133 children were referred to the group compared to 58 children supported in May 2021.
Last summer, the School Bank provided over 500 children with a new uniform pack in time for August.
Volunteers expect this summer will be their busiest yet, with the cost of living crisis coupled with incoming waves of Ukrainian children requiring support as they seek asylum locally.
The society of St Vincent de Paul in Linlithgow donated £250 worth of school bags and local estate agent Property Webb donated 10 uniform packs. In 2021, 356 locals sponsored a child – equating to over £34,000 in donated clothing.
Project manager, Colette Moran, said: “The amount of referrals we are seeing is really worrying – last month alone we had more than double the referrals we had in May last year.
“We have hundreds of children waiting for sponsors. We’re getting a lot of referrals for Ukrainian children, and with the cost of living crisis hitting hard people are having to choose between heating, eating, or feeding their children.
“School uniforms are so much more than just clothes – it improves self-esteem, includes them with their peers, and gives them the best chance possible.”
You can sponsor a child with the School Bank in West Lothian by visiting: https://schoolbank-westlothian.org/sponsor-child/
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