Uniform swap scheme wins second national award

The school uniform swap shop was hosted across the district in various shops and community venues

A free school uniform swap shop scheme in Leicestershire has won a second national award.

North West Leicestershire District Council's initiative saw families invited to use 14 stores across the district to recycle old uniforms and collect used items over the past two summers.

The authority said the scheme had saved three tonnes of clothes from landfill.

Now it has won the Best Waste Minimisation or Prevention Project at the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) Conference Celebration Awards.

Helen Crouch said parents had to decide between uniforms and food due to soaring costs

The honour comes five months after it was named the top reuse initiative at another national award event.

Helen Crouch, who set up the scheme, said some parents were forced to decide between uniforms and food during school holidays due to soaring costs.

"The award isn't just for us, it's for everybody who has supported the School Uniform Swap Shop," she said.

Michael Wyatt, the district council's portfolio holder for communities and climate change, said: "Winning this second award really shows how effective this campaign has been.

"Not only has it helped families around the district financially, but it has given school uniform another life and stopped a lot from going to landfill."