Pop-ups with free school uniforms branded lifeline

Ann Wilshaw says that even families with two working parents have had to use the service

Parents using a clothing bank offering free school uniforms say the service has been a "lifeline".

Shropshire charity Little Stars collects donations of new and second-hand uniform items and gives them away at free events to families who are referred to them.

With just weeks until the new school year began, a pop-up event was held in Market Drayton for dozens of families.

"The cost of buying uniforms for children is astronomical, there are people that are using these uniform hubs where both parents work," said volunteer, Ann Wilshaw.

Siobhan, a mum using the pop-up service for the second time, said she would struggle without it.

"It helps me, because I have three boys and they go to [a] school [where the uniform is] a bit more expensive.

"It’s helped me much more with blazers, shirts, the lot really. The blazers are like £35 each - it's £100 each child, really, for all their school uniform."

Another mum, Shannon, used the pop-up for the first time for her three children.

"The costs of their jumper and shirts, is just [so much]... especially with them getting bigger as well, it's just costing too much," she said.

"My eldest, he's 10, and buying sizes for him is awkward.

"I've managed to get a new pair of shoes for my eldest, P.E. shorts, shirts, and trousers."

Ms Wilshaw said that schools using branding on their uniforms made it harder, as parents could not just buy generic clothing.

"Everything's branded, from a P.E. t-shirt, to a pair of shorts, even book bags.

"The cost-of-living crisis has made it worse, but I think this [branding] has highlighted it even more when you're seeing a desperate scrabble for uniforms of all things."