Financial help towards school uniform

[2ndAugust]

Anyone know if you can get any help towards the cost of year 7 uniform? My best friend is really struggling after just finishing her degree, and being unable to access any help from the government during lockdown even though she is self employed. Maintenance from her ex is the bare minimum and her 18 year old is already giving more help than most kids would. After spending a couple of days with her I am really worried, she has had next to no Money for months but this is what’s keeping her awake at night. I’m prepared to just stick it on my credit card, but it’s a last resort really, and not what she wants to do. Tia

Yes. Your local council should be able to help or if not the school will direct you

Local council says it does not, I could not find anything on the school website but did message them - I doubt this will be picked up during the holidays though. Thanks for your reply.

There are often local grassroots organisations too that can help with uniform banks - worth asking the admins of a local Facebook group to ask anonymously if anyone can put you in touch with the right one

Our local Facebook page often has people selling school uniform as does the local charity shops (especially for blazers/school jumpers which need logo’s). If no one has any posts up selling it, put up a few wanted posts and see if you get much of a response.

Assuming they wear grey/black school trousers and white shirts/polo’s Sainsbury often have 25% off school stuff which I believe starts next week. Allegedly it’s good quality as well. Also covers school shoes/socks/p.e kits although you will probably need to buy online to get the sizes your after.

If they need to wear blazers is it possible to buy a plain blazer and then get a badge and sew it on the uniform (not always possible, depends on the uniform) this can often work out cheeper.

My DD's secondary school certainly has some kind of uniform grant system.

Contact the school! When I was absolutely skint, they gave DD 2 used jumpers and a blazer with school logo for free. And I paid something like £10.- for trousers and 2 shirts and used PE kit. Shoes I had to buy myself.
Now that I am better off, I make sure I donate any good items straight to the school!

Thankyou I will try all of those things, it’s all from a specific shop unfortunately, all Logo’s and no supermarket/ M &S substitutes. Thanks very much.

Do ask the school. At the school I work at we have a fund for such circumstances and each year help out at least a couple of families.

Ask the school my eldest has just left and they specifically asked for old uniform for these circumstances.