Having to use a uniform bank 😔

[Wobblymama01]

I'm ashamed it's come to this we used to donate to the uniform bank and this year we are going to have to use it. I know I shouldn't be embarrassed but I never thought we would be in this position 😔

school requesting logo stuff and we just can't afford it due to unexpected car repairs running into the thousands (car is essential) plus energy bills almost tripling, plus mortgage increase, there's just not the spare cash

I've got everything else off vinted but it's just the logo stuff. Have scoured the local FB pages and asked friends with older children it nothing for sale 😔

Uurgh.

I love the second hand uniform 'shop' at dd's school. £2 vs £23.99 for a logo'd cardigan/fleece, it's a no brainer. Plus most of it is in good condition as they grow so fast, plus I don't worry so much about her losing it!

Also, I get her tunics/skirts etc from vinted. Got some brand new (still in the plastic!) M&S tunics the other day for £2. Even with the postage it's a fraction of what it would be in the shops. As a single parent with no financial assistance, it's a life saver (well, a bank balance saver anyway).

Still absolutely fine & agree about recycling/ landfill issues. Wouldn't give it a second thought. I can see that what you're likely worried about the bigger picture financially but on this particular issue it's win, win and its what it's there for.

If schools want children to wear branded uniform then they should provide it instead of putting pressure on already stretched parents. I hope you get something sorted OP, it’s shit.

First year of secondary I bought it all new and then caught wind of secondhand sales l, I buy everything there, I’ve also used local Facebook uniform groups and even managed to get some off olio, no way am I paying £8 for socks and £30+ for a skirt.

i give my children’s outgrown uniform away as it’s stupidly expensive.

we don’t have a bank just a sale which is much cheaper.

No shame whatsoever , no school should be insisting on a logo and if they do then they should provide it foc.
A uniform bank should be standard at all schools , i dread to think how much uniform ends up in landfill .
You've donated to it in the past and now you need a little help , in the future things hopefully will be better and you can always donate again.
But please don't beat yourself up over this.

Don’t feel embarrassed. You have contributed to help others and now it’s your turn to take out.
.

Don't be embarrassed op - that's what the uniform bank is for. Plus it's mad to buy new if you can get a hand me down.

My DS had clothes from 2 friends who had older DSs including grey school trousers and it was a godsend. I also handed down his uniform to other friends with younger DSs. Plus all his secondary uniform went to friends with younger kids - some of it had hardly been worn!

We have a local FB page for school uniforms in our London borough - might be worth looking for something similar as this is very popular even with people who can absolutely afford to buy new.

Absolutely no shame to use it , our Pta type shop everything is about £2.. everyone uses it.. dc 1 everything new. Dc 2 and 3 everything pre loved... and fine !

Definitely don't feel embarrassed. You've donated in the past and now you need a bit of help.

I love this. Definitely think of it like this.

Update....

Went today, all fine! It was actually really busy, the staff were so friendly. We saw someone we knew so it was a bit awkward but they just said isn't this a great idea! It was easy you just filled in a form what you wanted and they helped you find it. Some items were brand new!

Really relieved now 🙂

I'm also going to contact the governors re compulsory logo items it's silly in a cost of living crisis!

Well done!!

I had understood & I think it's a great idea.

can the logos be removed from clothing that worn out & sewn onto other items?

i guess at this time of the year, schools are going to be between a rock & a hard place with regulations on logos, because people who have bought logo'd uniform will be furious if you no longer need to.

Did you get the logo'd stuff you need?

i guess for some people it was easier to donate the new items (wrong size or whatever) than return them & maybe some people just bought extra to donate so some kids could have a few new bits.

Thanks @VinEtFromage .

Not sure what you mean about taking logos off?

Old school had optional logos so there was a complete mix of kids who has logo and those who didn't, no one cares, but this new school is compulsory logo and each item is around £20!

I got everything except one item but a friend has offered me theirs for that so think we are sorted!

Logo's are like a 'badge' and can be stuck on, sewn on or just printed on. At some schools you can buy the logo to see it stick on generic clothing, ot you can remove them from clothes that are unwearable to put on new clothing.

glad you're sorted now anyway.

Why feel ashamed? Did you think badly of the parents who used your donated uniforms?

Oh god pls don't worry! You're doing the planet a favour 💖 I've always bought my daughter's uniform from the school second hand sales (only new uniform she's had is in reception). The way I see it is I'm getting a bargain, I don't care if she loses her cardigans and I'm putting money back into the school. I'm on Mat leave atm so explained I couldn't afford a smiggle backpack this year so we've sold a few bits on Vinted over the summer and yesterday she chose a second hand Smiggle bag on there for a tenner. Everyone is getting hit, pls don't be down on yourself xx

Glad you are all sorted 🙂

Glad you're sorted OP, easier said than done but please don't feel ashamed at all. It's bad the school are insisting on branded uniform, I didn't think they were able to do this? Shame there isn't a PTA thing either, we run one and get tonnes of donations which thankfully seem to be enough for those who need them- it's free for everyone.

The supplier for our schools logo items (polo shirts, jumpers) is excellent, the quality is really good - I bought polo shirts for my DD in P1 a size bigger, they did her for two years, and then my DS for two years and still looked great, they’d held their colour and shape, and stains came out easily. It would have been shameful to put them in the bin. As it is they’ve been used for a friends child for another two years and his sibling is now wearing them so 7 years from one set of polo shirt and it’s still perfectly serviceable.

I have no qualms about using the schools uniform bank for the expensive logo stuff - it’s good quality and often in like new condition. I know it can feel awful when you’ve no choice, like a reminder of how tight things are just now but uniforms are so expensive and get so little wear before their outgrown it makes sense to go second hand.

DGS starts secondary school this coming term. His mum has had to spend a fortune. His dad paid extra maintenance for the summer, and we pitched in, too.
His dad went to indie school from aged 8 up. It was less of an issue there! Prep school, apart from socks, everything was second-hand, and the school matron repaired everything to an inch of its life! This was a very exclusive small Prep. All the boys wore uniform until they outgrew it. As long as it was serviceable, it went for the second-hand store.

The senior indie had uniform with sew on badges, only a house tie and PE vest from suppliers. We bought most of the uniform in Asda!
My friends son went to state grammar, and the uniform was eye watering even 25 years ago.

State schools should pitch at the lowest income and work from that point.

Glad you went

I don't see the diff between pre loved /second hand or the place you went to

It's reusing something
That would otherwise be chucked

Think of it this way - you have helped people in the last by donating - now you need to use them a

Our school has a logo for jumper /cardi but equally is happy with blue one from Asda /Tesco

I buy a new one each year as a smart nice photo/trip one and obv worn other times and also get from the pta second hand stall

Dd prefers the logo to plain

New cardis with logo are I think £12

Second hand are £3 so I can get 4 for the price of one

And when grown out I just donate back so helping school funds and parents

Yes.

And don't feel ashamed OP - it's much eco-friendly to use second hand uniform anyway.

Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of - the amount of clothing that goes into landfill is obscene. This is simply recycling, just charity shops do (love a charity shop rummage) and should be encouraged 100%. I’m so glad we don’t have a logo requirement up here, it’s ridiculous.

I get pretty much all my kids' uniform second hand/free. It's the most sensible thing to do all round.