Uniform bank now helping working families

A food bank that offers free school uniforms has said that full time and self-employed professionals are among those relying on its support.

The Community Cupboard in Kent has begun offering pre-loved school uniforms to local families during the school holidays.

The volunteer-run service provides food supplies and support to families struggling to make ends meet from its West Kingsdown and Swanley sites.

"We're still seeing lots of working families, it's not just those that aren't working," founder Tracey Wood said.

Wood said that the charity, that has been running for seven years, helped "a lot of teachers, teaching assistants, a lot of hospital staff, self-employed".

"The money they have each month coming in is what's going out so once something goes wrong – be it the car, the washing machine – it just tips them over," she said.

The teaching assistant added: "Although I'm paid throughout the summer, it's still it's not enough to pay for something every single day."

Laura, a full-time carer for her husband and children, said: "You don't get any help, and this is the only place we come to for help."

Her children would have to wear uniforms too small for them without the uniform bank, she said.

"Or I'd have to try and ask the school for more help," she added.

Agata, who has three children, said that she had received "massive support" from the charity.

Her two eldest children fit their uniforms from the last school year but her youngest needed new uniform with school logos.

"If I can get anything second hand, it is a massive help because when you have that logo requirement the prices go triple straight away," she said.

"I'm not the person that usually asks for help, but I think then children are really the one that's paying the price at the moment."

From September, schools cannot mandate more than three uniform items to have school branding. Secondary schools can additionally require a branded tie.

Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children's Society, said that parents were "going into debt over the summer holidays" and "skipping meals".

"Anything that can save families money and make their lives easier has got to be a good thing," he told the BBC.

"We're going to keep an eye on the cost of uniform, even with these new changes, and if we need to campaign for further change then we'll do that."

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