Any use for a school's worth of second hand uniform?

[DownWithTrump]

Our prep school is closing. There is therefore a whole school's worth of second hand uniform with no use. Are there any charities that would find such a bulk donation valuable?

I run a charity that runs a free charity shop in the summer holiday. We're based in coventry but could collect in the midlands. All the non logo stuff anyway! Message me if useful. Also in midlands is a charity called GAIN who ship to schools in Africa.

Also to all the people saying textile recycling, most textile recycling say no to school uniform, even without logo. I don't know any textile recyclers in the midlands that will take it. I have to bin it.

I believe there are Charities which redistribute obsolete uniform to schools in Africa. Generic items may be useful to clothing banks.

In our area is a "school uniform bank". Same sort of principle as food bank, where people who are struggling to afford school uniform can get items for their children.
Usually organisations like food baks and street pastors will know who to reach out to.

How about selling it on grown out of it .com. Our school recycles unifotm on there and it is really popular x

Hi - I'm back again. Still struggling to find a way of donating 100+ kids' worth of uniforms. Midlands based. We've looked at the charity that distributes in Africa but the shipping costs are too high. Most of the uniform is unbranded, but it is not standard uniform and so cannot be reused with local schools (distinctive shirt patterns and fabrics etc). Help!!!!

Hi- Have a look at Anglo Doorstep Collections.

Can you describe it. Colours of shirt/ polo shirt, colour of pinafore/ trousers etc. cardigans or jumpers or fleece and what colour. What are the age ranges. That might help!
Thank you

Have you tried Mary’s Meals? They already distribute school supplies to places like Malawi

Is there any generic coloured uniform? Trousers/ pinafores/ skirts/ tights (navy, black, grey) / polo shirts (white/blue/red) / shoes (black)? Or is it all branded/ patterned? Anything generic could be donated to uniform banks or food banks. I'm Midlands based and we have 3 uniform banks, 2 food banks and a pop up uniform market stall all in a 20 minute drive who take donated generic uniform and distribute it for free.

I think you may struggle to move anything branded or patterned on.

Could try https://www.newforestforukraine.org/
they took a few schools but based in Hampshire I think.

How much are the shipping costs? Would a local charity donate - like the Rotary or Lions or someone, to cover the cost?
There are so many charities abroad listed above, the cost to them all can't be prohibitive?
How much were you quoted to ship?

Thanks all. No real generic items. Ages - Nursery to Year 6. (This is outing...) Navy cord dresses/trousers/shorts, checked shirts, patterned dresses. Discreet logo on polo shirts/jumpers etc.

I do take the point that if shipping is expensive, is it morally right to pay money to ship and use those resources etc when actually the same cost could buy new uniform in an African country? (The charity says this too.)

Sorry to repeat this, but check https://www.anglo-recycling.co.uk/schools/ They cover your area and they return a percentage of money raised to your own school.

Thanks @InsaneInTheMamBrain - I've just emailed them to ask!

Brilliant! Good luck. I have used their services domestically many times and found them professional.

Fab. Thank you!

This is SO depressing. None of the organisations I have so far contacted will accept this donation. The uniform suppliers cannot help (and do not give a toss). I can't even find a bulk way of recycling.

A large amount of this unform is either in fab condition or unworn. It must have value to someone!

Have you tried one of those Cash 4 clothes types places? They won't take the logo items, but the rest they might?

The money can then be donated to a charity

I've tried that too - I need a bulk option and they aren't interested.

Out of interest - if they are just after the fabric to recycle, why can't they take stuff with logos?

Could you ask the uniform brand if they supply another school with any of the same items?

It sounds like the items without logos could be worn as normal clothing - cords and check shirts etc, so could they be donated without specifying they are uniform?

@Goinggold - I'm actually quite p***ed off with the supplier (Stevensons - name and shame). Not remotely interested in helping in any way. Poor.

You are right though that the non branded stuff could be worn normally. Maybe that's the best option - just suck it up that a load will go to waste.

Depressing.

Did you describe it as School uniform or just childrens clothing?

I think they do actually sell the donations, not just "recycling", in other countries

@TickingAlongNicely - fair point. It might be that they would take the non branded stuff to sell. But if no one wants the lot it might be just up to families to dispose of as they see fit.

Some of the charities here do a uniform bank and the charity shops do a rail for free uniform for the local schools . Maybe ring a food bank by you and ask them for ideas .