The 'back to school' reality: 300 Preston families struggle to buy school uniforms for their children

Children are heading back to schools across Lancashire after the Coronavirus lockdown, but for some families, affording uniforms for their little ones during the pandemic has been a struggle.
The Community Gateway Association helped 300 families clothe their children for school this SeptemberThe Community Gateway Association helped 300 families clothe their children for school this September
The Community Gateway Association helped 300 families clothe their children for school this September

More than 300 families in Preston came forward for help from a city uniform donation bank ahead of the new term over concerns of rising school uniform costs.

For those finding the uniform haul a stretch, Preston's Community Gateway Association ran their school uniform referral bank throughout the summer holidays.

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The Community Engagement team were preparing donations of unwanted primary and secondary uniforms to be allocated families in need across Preston, with all donated uniforms now given away successfully to over 500 children before the new term.

Rebecca Wood, mother of two and head of science at St Cecilia's High School, Longridge, said that although uniforms with a logo are part of our societal norms, they often come at an overly expensive cost that leaves her 'careful' each September.

"I think the prices for school uniforms are excessive, even at primary schools because parents can be forced to pay upwards of 20 or 30 pounds for a jumper that they could get from Asda. I don't understand why, for some schools, all their uniforms have to be branded," she said.

"At some high schools they even have to have regulation skirts and trousers. Personally I think this doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day, a pair of black trousers is a pair of black trousers so I don't see the need for it.

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"As a parent myself, I know that come September time I am having to be careful and save money to be able to afford their uniforms, but I do think an element of it is that clothes are just more expensive nowadays."

The average cost of a school uniform per child comes in at around £212 - a large amount for some families hit hard by pandemicThe average cost of a school uniform per child comes in at around £212 - a large amount for some families hit hard by pandemic
The average cost of a school uniform per child comes in at around £212 - a large amount for some families hit hard by pandemic

Figures from the Schoolwear Association show 75% of primary schools and 50% of secondary still have "sole supplier" arrangements but figures show these rules can add as much as £10 to a single item of the uniform.

A study by The Children’s Society suggested that as many as a million children live in families who are getting into debt in order to cover the rising cost of their school uniforms.

The positive response from the CGA's uniform scheme generated over 1200 items being donated to the scheme, supporting upwards of 300 families and providing uniforms to 520 children.

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And with many family's income having been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Uniform Bank's scheme hoped to provide some welcome relief.

The CGA also donated bags, water bottles and sanitary products as part of their scheme to support familiesThe CGA also donated bags, water bottles and sanitary products as part of their scheme to support families
The CGA also donated bags, water bottles and sanitary products as part of their scheme to support families

Tasha Cowperthwaite, Community Engagement & Support Officer, has been overseeing the Uniform Bank and was amazed at the response received.

She said: “This project started out as an opportunity to support families and it developed into the whole of Preston pulling out all the stops to get involved. From the number of donations received to the long nights of deliveries from our volunteer drivers, we have been blown away by the generosity. We are now looking forward to hearing what our communities would like support with next.

"The feedback we have received has been incredible, with families expressing how grateful they are for this support, especially during the current pandemic."

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The Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund allowed the CGA to increase their offering - in their bid to support local voluntary and community organisations helping vulnerable people impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

Their scheme also provided primary school children from disadvantaged backgrounds with a lunch box and water bottle, with high school children receiving a fully equipped stationery pack and set of toiletries.

In the UK, schools are not required to have a uniform policy at all, although the Department for Education strongly recommends that they do so - but the uniform costs average at £212.88 per child, per year.

Rebecca commented: "I don't think people realise that although the cost of uniforms is a burden on parents, it is also a burden on schools who need to provide spare ties, blazers and jumpers to children who don't have them. It is another resource that they can't afford because schools have to provide things, in an unofficial capacity, for children who's parents cannot afford things as easily.

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"I don't think that it is unreasonable that schools ask for their logo to be shown on their blazers and even considered schools selling a patch that parents can sew onto jumpers themselves, but then you just create a visual class divide between students which can lead to bullying. Uniforms are supposed to make everyone equal and it is part of societal norms and rules."

For families worried about affording to dress their children for school, Aldi and Lidl began a school uniform sale with clothes starting from 50p, and Sainsbury's rank as the cheapest against other competitors like ASDA and Matalan, with the average total cost of five uniform items ranging between £15 and £20.

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