Essex uniform banks to face high demand over summer as prices rise
They're seeing more parents coming to them for help
Last updated 22nd Jul 2022
As we approach the summer holidays, many families are holding on to their pennies while the cost of living crisis continues.
This has meant school uniform banks, which provide free, pre-loved uniforms to families, have seen an influx of parents left with no other choice as they struggle to afford the pricey items of clothing required by schools.
The Laindon School Uniform Bank is expecting a surge in demand over the coming months.
They recently gave away more pieces of uniform than they initially had - for the first time since they opened in 2019 - with supplies being re-stocked constantly by new donations.
Sue Dulwich, who volunteers there, said: “We’re starting to see that more people are using the uniform bank.
“Quite often we’re almost encouraging them to take more items because it’ll cut down the amount of times they need to do the washing - because of the energy crisis.”
Another volunteer at the uniform bank, Tracey Breach, says there are some items which are more commonly requested than others: “I think it’s the logoed items that are quite expensive - the blazers and the PE kits - they are a ridiculous price and that is what people generally are asking for.
“We’re hoping to sort a lot of things out before we open again so that we can get it organised because we are expecting quite a lot of people.
“I think we’re all expecting it to be really busy.”
Schools in England will be required to push costs down by removing unnecessary branding, allowing more high-street school uniforms and encouraging using second-hand clothing.
The Laindon School Uniform Bank is open from 10am-12pm fortnightly on a Saturday at Manor Mission Church.