Edinburgh school uniform bank sees unprecedented demand
Schools are back, that means uniform headaches - Edinburgh school uniform bank is telling Forth News demand is up by 30% this year
Last updated 17th Aug 2022
An Edinburgh school uniform bank says it's seen unprecedented demand for it's services, and doesn't expect that to slow down over the rest of the year.
The charity ESUB experienced their highest number of referrals ever last year, and demand is already up by 30% on that level.
With the cost of living crisis taking grip, they are telling us that parents are having their finances pulled tighter than ever before.
We paid them a visit yesterday, Chair Margaret Civval told Forth News:
"So we've helped 2000 Kids in the past 12 months. But today alone, we've had 100 requests for new uniform."
Civval explained how the service they provide is crucial, as without fresh uniform many kids might decide simply not to go to school.
Especially after the Summer many children can come back, having had a growth spirt, too big for their clothing.
Families are simply unable to match the rising costs, Civval said:
"Things are unaffordable even for the basics. People have been struggling for a while even pre COVID, you know, we were busy. But this is on a scale that we just would never have expected.
"We are not as pessimistic as you might think. Because we knew this was coming.
"And we have planned for it and we have budgeted for it. And we have set money aside. So we've been very, very careful. And the people of Edinburgh have been brilliant."
Whilst the increase in demand has clearly mounted pressure on the charity, Civval tells us that nothing beats seeing children who are delighted to receive their new uniform.
"What we have heard from people working with younger kids is they are so excited to go back to school. And particularly the P1's , we have a disproportionate number of P1's that come to us.
"And when they get it and they put it on and they will not take it off, that can be the problem with getting wee girls to take off their dresses, and everybody's twirling and they're ready for school.
"Parents have told us is, this is the first time my children have ever had anything new."