Cannock free school 'uniform bank' overwhelmed by demand

The Create Community Hub has bags of clothes ready to give to parents

A "uniform bank" set up to give away free school uniforms has been overwhelmed with struggling parents, volunteers have said.

The scheme in Cannock, similar to a food bank, has provided dozens of Staffordshire parents with second-hand uniforms for the new school year.

Create Community Hub relies on donations and lost property from schools.

Volunteers said interest in the scheme had "exploded".

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Uniform bank volunteer Steve Graham said: "It seems to have really taken off. Last week we provided uniforms for nearly 20 children.

"We launched it this month and it has exploded on Facebook with lots of people enquiring how they can get uniform."

The church-run scheme provides jumpers and cardigans with logos for 12 primary and secondary schools in the Huntington area, along with plain tops, trousers and skirts.

Jodie Humphries has used the uniform bank to get clothes for her son

One mother of two boys at Littleton Green Community School said the uniform bank was a great idea.

"It helps parents like myself who are on a lower income and have quite a big family," said Jodie Humphries.

She added: "Over the years as my boys have grown up, they ruin and get through lots of uniform. I haven't always been able to afford new ones."

Uniform bank volunteers said they have been overwhelmed with parents wanting to collect uniform.

Mr Graham said the uniform bank started with one school last year, but due to demand it expanded to offer clothes for 12 schools.

He said: "The area we work in is socially deprived and parents can be short on cash.

"The parents who have come said saving money on uniform has freed up their budget to spend doing stuff with the kids this summer."