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 bloody love second hand uniforms. But ours are super expensive and my kids go through them like there’s no tomorrow.

I just paid $111 for one tracksuit because I couldn’t find one second hand.

Definitely not too proud here, neither is anyone else in my friends circle.

Why is there this obsession here that people who are not rich (and that doesn’t mean poor, that just means those who don’t live in “affluent areas” (which are extremely rare in our thankfully very mixed housing stock in the U.K., despite the fact every MN’er seems to live in one)) are ashamed of not being rich?

Believe it or not most people are not embarrassed and constantly trying to prove something about their finances, they’re just getting on with their lives. There are a sizeable number of people who simply want the convenience to shop when they fancy rather than going out of their way to meet the stock/ opening demands of a second hand shop. Just as I’d rather pop on the ASOS site and get a dress delivered rather than trawl Facebook marketplace for a similar one I have to get in my car and collect

It's an observed sociological phenomenon. Crack on though if you want to ignore it.

By who fuma?

I love secondhand uniform.

The price of my DS' schoolwear is just stupid so if I can get it really cheap then I'll have it.

I frequently scour fb selling groups to see what's about.

Ours sells off all unnamed and unclaimed lost property for money for the pta. Apparently it’s popular, although I’ve never been as it’s always been held on after school on a day I can’t finish early.

I think phrase it as recycling and to raise money for the pta and people might be less sniffy about it. Some people are really weird about second hand stuff.