Stoke-on-Trent families supported through school uniform campaign

Parents in Stoke-on-Trent have been receiving extra support with finding free or affordable school uniforms with the help of a QR code

VAST have collated a resource of school uniform banks, exchanges, swap shops and donation points.

They are using this information to develop a toolkit to help communities find their nearest school uniform bank or find support with the huge cost of school uniform with the help of a QR code.

The cost of living crisis has hit many families in Stoke-on-Trent hard and finding money for school uniform can feel impossible, which is why this work by VAST has been so helpful to many across the city.

Faye Angus, Communications and Content Manager at VAST said: “As a parent, I am all too aware of the cost of school uniforms and how long they realistically last on growing children. It’s not as simple as popping to the local supermarket for the cheaper jumpers and cardigans, not when a lot of schools are insisting on branded blazers, ties, and sometimes even PE socks!”

“We worked closely with the sector to develop a cost-of-living comms toolkit; a range of content for voluntary sector organisations to share information on free and/or affordable food within their local communities. But we wanted that content to reach as many people as possible with the information and support they need, and what they needed support with was accessible school wear.”

“The survey responses we gathered meant we were able to connect communities with free or affordable second-hand school uniform. Whether it was a uniform exchange to take old and outgrown items and swap them for bigger ones, or it was a free bank for specific branded items – we were able to share where to access it.”

“We’re very grateful to the groups who responded to our survey and were able to help local parents and carers to access the uniform they need for their children, either for free, by exchanging outgrown items, or at a fraction of the retail price.”

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for Education and Anti-Poverty, said: “This has been a brilliant campaign that VAST have put together to help families across Stoke-on-Trent with the high cost of school uniforms.

“With the cost of living crisis affecting so many and children growing out of school uniforms that then need replacing, it is a recurring cost that many find hard to afford.

“I am so pleased that so many families have been helped by this across the city and urge anyone still struggling with school uniform costs to check out the resources VAST have put together for extra support.”

Local organisations that are hosting a school uniform bank are urged to complete the simple online form. For more information visit: https://vast.org.uk/school-uniform-support-in-stoke-on-trent/

VAST will be sharing the toolkit, so for further updates follow them on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/VASTstaffordshire or sign up to their mailing list at https://mailchi.mp/8bd9c0db2e7f/vast-subscribe