Outgrown and unused uniforms needed for struggling families

Lianne Heaps-Warby has organised the campaign, to which people can donate uniforms at Dunelm in Cheltenham

Outgrown and unused uniforms are needed for families having to choose between buying them and paying their bills.

Cheltenham families are being encouraged to donate their outgrown or unused school uniforms, sports kits, bags and lunchboxes.

The items will then be donated to those who need it in Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) communities.

Lianne Heaps-Warby, a money advice leader at CBH, is hoping to host events where free school uniform will be available to those who need it.

'People are struggling'

Ms Heaps-Warby said that, while schools are "supportive" of parents struggling to afford school uniform, some parents find it hard to admit they need help.

"I thought if I was to launch a school uniform campaign, we would help a lot more of the broader community," she said.

"Our team is front-facing, and we are finding a lot of people are struggling with their bills due to the cost of living.

"Our customers are making choices to pay their bills or afford school uniform, and no child should have to face that decision."

Ms Heaps-Warby is planning on handing out any leftover donations to schools.

She also hopes to donate some uniforms to food pantries, so they can then be distributed further.

For her first campaign, she is asking for donations of primary school uniform, but hopes to accept secondary school uniform donations once the campaign is up and running.

"At the moment, parents are finding it hard to maintain the cost of having to repurchase it, if there is wear and tear," Ms Heaps-Warby said.

"We're happily accepting donations, whether [the uniform] has logos on or whether they are logo free, we will make use of them.

"I want to make sure all families have exactly the same chance as everybody else to provide for their children."

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