Sunderland second-hand faculty uniform scheme ‘flat out’ | EUROtoday

A group store which runs a free second-hand faculty uniform scheme says it’s “flat out” serving households who can not afford to purchase branded clothes.

Second Chance CIC in Hendon, Sunderland, collects donations of pre-warn objects that are provided to these in want for no cost.

It comes because the Department for Education (DfE) tries to alter the regulation to restrict the variety of obligatory branded objects required by colleges to 3, plus a branded tie for secondary college students, in a bid to chop prices for households.

Wendy English, director of Second Chance, mentioned on common 20 households used the service every day and, “on top of bills and food, people just can’t afford clothing”.

The authorities believes dad and mom in England will save round £50 per youngster via its faculty uniform measures, which it hopes to introduce in September 2026.

However, faculty uniform producers declare the plans might find yourself costing them extra.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill nonetheless has a number of parliamentary phases to undergo earlier than turning into regulation.

Second Chance, which opened in April 2023, restocks its uniform donations each day and prospects are in a position to entry objects with no need a referral service.

“We can struggle to restock the shop,” Mrs English mentioned.

“We run out of donations but I think it shows how many people need us.”

She believes the brand new guidelines are a “good start” for what she says is a rising drawback.

“We are flat out with families who can’t afford to buy branded uniforms, so they come here,” she mentioned.

Second Chance goals to maneuver to a bigger web site this yr in an effort to higher take care of the demand.

“Some schools, like St Anthony’s, have branded PE kits which contain the pupils initials,” Mrs English defined.

“I’m currently looking at ways we can remove them so they can be used again.”

Marie Lanaghan, headteacher at St Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy, mentioned uniforms can create a way of “unity and pride” inside a college, however she recognised price challenges.

“We appreciate a balance needs to be struck,” she mentioned.

“We welcome the government’s new bill, which provides clarity.”

The common price of a full faculty uniform and PE equipment for a kid at secondary faculty is £442, and £343 for a major faculty pupil in line with DfE information.