Inside 'school uniform bank' as desperate parents struggle to clothe their kids
Jumpers, shirts and trousers cover every spare space of the small retail unit.
Downstairs, two volunteers are painstakingly rummaging through bags brimming with newly washed PE kit, checking it carefully before it goes on display.
This unit is a lifeline for hundreds of parents struggling with the ever-increasing costs of providing their children with the correct school uniform. Here, at the Shipley Area School Uniform Bank in West Yorkshire, they can either get second-hand uniform for free, or if they are able, pay what they can for the items with proceeds going back into the running of the service.
A recent report by the Children’s Society found parents are now spending on average £287 on primary uniforms and £422 a year on secondary uniforms, with having to buy expensive branded items partly to blame. A poll by the charity also found that some parents are choosing between heating their homes and buying the right uniform.
Heather Morton, is a full-time carer to her eight-year-old son, and volunteers at the hub (STEVE ALLEN)This is a situation single parent Kennedy Rawlings would have found herself in had it not been for the hub. “School uniform is so expensive and if there wasn’t somewhere like this available I would really struggle to afford it as I don’t have a lot of money,” says Kennedy, 30, who lives on benefits and has a 10-year-old daughter.
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“It has helped me a lot over the years, especially recently with the cost-of-living crisis that has massively impacted me. So many parents have to choose between heating or food and school uniform, and if this wasn’t here I would be having to make those hard choices. The uniform bank has saved me a lot of money, which I can put towards bills or food instead.”
Last year, the bank, run by Shipley Salvation Army, supported 150 families. While there are no firm figures for this year yet – or official statistics available on the number of parents using school uniform banks across the UK – it is little surprise Dawn Coleman, who set up the service in 2018, says she is seeing more people than ever. In February this year, the uniform bank moved to the retail space in Westgate, Shipley, to meet growing demand.
When it first started, she says school uniforms retailed for around £125 for primary school children and £175 for secondary, meaning costs have risen by 129% and 141% since 2018. “It’s really tough at the moment for a lot of people,” adds 40-year-old Dawn, as she puts a selection of crisp, white polo shirts on a hanger.
The uniform bank has witnessed first hand the growing demand for its services (STEVE ALLEN)“We’ve had a really big increase in people coming in, especially since the schools went back in September 2021. This correlates with the costs of everything going up. When we first started, we mainly had people who had been anonymously referred to us through schools and other organisations.
“And then when we opened to the general public it tended to be people on benefits coming to see us. In the last couple of years, we’ve had more families come in where both parents are working but they still can’t afford it. Some are working three jobs to make ends meet and are still struggling.”
For those on the lowest incomes or living in temporary accommodation, Dawn ensures that they get full sets of uniform, such as five shirts, as she knows they may only be able to afford to do laundry or have access to a washing machine once a week. The service not only helps to ease the burden on families with tight budgets it also means the uniform, some of which is new, is being recycled and not going to landfill, making it more environmentally friendly.
Parents can also pick up new underwear, tights and socks as well as “hidden extras” such as football boots, stationery, lunchboxes and bags. For Dawn, one of the most important things about running the uniform bank is ensuring children have a sense of belonging.
“If they don’t have the right uniform, kids can be bullied or disciplined,” the mum of three says. Studies have shown that children who have the right uniform feel like they belong, and there’s a lot of evidence out there to suggest that this helps them get better grades.”
For children with special educational needs, the costs of school uniform can be even higher as they often need to wear certain fabrics and can damage clothing more easily. Volunteer Heather Morton, 46, is a full-time carer to her eight-year-old son. He has autism and additional sensory needs and she first got involved with the uniform bank when she used it to find his school clothing.
Dawn Coleman at the Salvation Army school uniform hub (STEVE ALLEN)She says: “When my son first started primary school, he would go through three pairs of trousers a week. When you have children with additional needs, you can’t afford to go to every shop and buy uniform to test out if it will work, but when people come here they can try things on or bring items back that don’t work. Initially, when people think of a school uniform bank they will assume it’s only for parents on benefits, but we have people coming in here who are in all sorts of situations that wouldn’t normally spring to mind.”
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Like Heather, service user Michelle, 35, has three children, including two with additional needs. She says: “Because my son has sensory issues and can’t use buttons, I have to buy specific clothes such as items with Velcro on it and they can be expensive. It’s just cost me £27 for five white polo shirts that don’t even have school logos on them. This service really helps me, as I can balance out getting the items for my other children from here and afford to get the specialist clothes he needs.”
In England, councils can offer help with uniform costs, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there is a system of grants to help parents. A recent study by Scope found 36% of people would buy school uniforms at charity shops, an increase of 7% on two years ago.
Last year, statutory guidance was also brought in to ensure school uniform prices in England were reasonable, by removing unnecessary branding. But, this did not force schools to completely ban such items. Schools also ensure second-hand uniforms are available for parents and guardians. The schools covered by Shipley’s bank often direct families to the service.
James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, says: “With the cost-of-living crisis putting families under increasing financial pressure, schools are giving more thought than ever to ensuring that uniform remains as affordable as possible – including running or supporting schemes offering parents access to good-quality, second-hand uniforms.”
A Department for Education spokesman added: “The guidance came into effect this academic year and we expect all schools to be compliant by September 2023. We will continue to work with responsible bodies and schools to ensure the guidance is followed and uniform policies are reasonable.”
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