AIBU to wonder if people are too proud to buy second hand school uniform

[KittenFace]

Posting here for advice…

At a recent PTA meeting (primary school) I suggested a kind of a Uniform Bank, where parents can donate their DCs outgrown uniform to be sold at a greatly reduced price (i.e. 10p per item) for PTA funds.

It was not met with much enthusiasm, the general consensus was that people would be too proud to buy second hand. My argument was that it would be best for the environment, it would save waste, raise PTA funds and make uniform more accessible for those families who may be struggling. I know basic uniform items are fairly cheap, but if you have a big family of kids who (like mine) often come home with holes in their knees or the unremovable pasta sauce stains on their shirts, I’m sure something like this would be really useful. Especially for items with logos. I hate having to buy new trousers throughout the year, when they're harder to get hold of as limited sizes are stocked in the shops. It's especially infuriating towards the end of the school year!

My question is- would you use a uniform bank like this? Or does your school already have one? (if so I would love to hear all about it, and if it is a success)

Thanks Mumsnetters!

I buy it and always donate extra. We are pretty middle class

I always had second hand as a child (they sell it in uniform shops where I come from). And annual second hand sale very popular at DSs school. All private schools though so maybe that makes a difference as all children look the same anyway and the uniforms last years and years. We don’t buy second hand purely because we have two boys, each of them wear the uniform for 1-2 years (heavy wear might I add) so it would be pointless. If we only had one child/different sexes I’d buy second hand though.

Would love this at my DC school. I looked everywhere for second hand before having to give up and buy new

I help run our PTA thrift shop. It's open every week and really busy!
All sorts of parents use it, and we also make up packs for the school to give out.
We did a wee side line in Xmas jumpers last year too which was good!

Our school gives it away. In the foyer we have 'give and take' for both uniform and food.

You can help yourself to anything from polo shirts to coats and shoes.

The food side has lots of cupboard basics, pasta and sauce; cereal, tea and coffee. There is a section for toiletries too, shampoo, nappies pads etc

We live in a thriving small town, definitely not a poor area, but this incentive reaches more people. It's all done by donations from parents.

Our primary did termly second hand uniform sales. They were held along side cake sales.

We sold logo items for £1 and others for 50p, (though I suspect this may now have gone up to £2 for logo items.)

The logo items were always very popular. Towards the end of my time we stopped taking in skirts/shorts/trousers as they didn't tend to sell and we had far too many. School summer dresses still sold well though. School used to give us unnamed items from the lost property cupboard at the end of each term too. (Quite shocking the amount of unlabelled jumpers and cardigans looking brand new.)

My kids primary school was pretty middle class and in an affluent area. The second hand uniform sale is always popular. Each item is £1 which considering the school skirt costs £45 new is a bargain! Lots of buying and selling of uniform items on the school parent facebook page too.

There is a raring trade at the second hand uniform shop at both my DS and DD’s grammar schools.

All he children at my children’s boarding school used to scrabble around in the lost property crates for replacement PE kits - if it didn’t have a current pupils name on, it was seen as a fair purchase. Donations to school charity were encouraged.

The problem is poor parents are worried that their children will be shamed at school by someone saying 'that jumper was mine'.
Poor parents worry about this a lot
Rich parents dont need to.
Everyone knows that they could afford the jumper if they wanted to, so if they send their kid in looking a bit shabby it's a choice.
Others worry that it's a first step to a social services referral.
If you could find a way to introduce some kind of middle man it might work. Not showing up at the school on a Wednesday and picking through the cast offs in full view of people you want to impress

I'm not too proud! I love second hand clothes for my kids. They are both almost entirely kitted out in pre worn uniform,bought for pennies in excellent condition. I always buy new school shoes though.

I think if you’re well off you don’t think that a slightly faded sweatshirt will mark you out as poor, but if you aren’t you’re more sensitive to it and being seen using it would be embarrassing
That's very true. Before my dh died I didn't worry if my kids looked a bit scruffy, but now I worry that people might think it's because I'm not coping or struggling for money.

I buy second hand uniform. Tend to buy M&S trousers and shorts if I see them, and the logoed PE shirt. Not sure I’d buy supermarket trousers though 🤔

I'd bloody love it.

Interestingly, when I was at a private secondary it was considered really naff to have an obviously new blazer. Made you look too fresh and shiny and try-hard I suppose.

I wonder if that is because the pupils there were more privileged than others that they took that attitude?

Local Facebook groups near me are full of nearly new uniform, general children's clothes, shoes, sports kit, toys, books, everything. I look on there daily and regularly pick up stuff. Always in fab condition for next to nothing. No dragging children round shops, double win!

We literally can’t give it away at our school, which is in a mixed area.
No idea why

Poor parents worry about this a lot
Rich parents dont need to.
Everyone knows that they could afford the jumper if they wanted to, so if they send their kid in looking a bit shabby it's a choice.
Others worry that it's a first step to a social services referral
This is it exactly.

i think its a brilliant idea.it was a phone in just the other day on the bbc about it and how some are struggling wihen they have so any to buy for and at the age where they grow out of it within minutes!
i dont know how you could put it togther so its no shame just an exchange between freindly people kind of thing but i think you should push it.
i see it all the time on fb.so people are needing it.

That might be true AnneWeber we are pretty well off and I am more than happy to accept second hand uniform and don’t care who knows it
My Mum actually ran the 2nd hand uniform shop at my (Private) Secondary

I suggested it and was told no it wouldn’t work- people genuinely would prefer to go and spend silly money on logo stuff rather than second hand. Which is madness.

The charity shops round me are stuffed with almost brand new stuff for next to nothing.

My DC’s school has a pre-loved rail next to the school office. It’s there all year round. Anyone can take what they need and add items to the rail.

State primary, affluent village though not super wealthy. But two working parents, usually professions, type set up.

Our PTA holds one sale per term, on playground after school so it’s very visible who is buying. Makes about £2K per year.

I don’t think there’s any stigma at all - certainly my children have looked with me, and would have straight away told me if they didn’t want to be seen looking!

I have 2 daughters my eldest went to a private primary and no one batted an eyelid if you where in 2nd hand - it was a thriving school shop! For the more expensive items 2nd hand coats & blazers once the item was sold you could either have a %of the value given back to you or just give the money to the PTA. The majority of the children wore 2nd hand.
Yet my 2nd daughter in a state primary (school in the same area)- the shop is very rarely ran as no - one seems to buy from it. I haven’t heard anyone be judged about wearing 2nd hand - but the parents seem not to like it?

nonmerci Could you set one up? Or ask people on group WhatsApp if they need uniforms?