Free school uniform market saves families £120k

A free school uniform market that has saved local families more than £120,000 is seeing some of its busiest sessions yet as parents prepare for the new school year.

The pre-loved uniform market is run by Cannock Chase Salvation Army Church and Staffordshire Libraries.

Since the project began in 2019, more than 2,400 children have received items of uniform.

David Cox, Community Mission Facilitator for Cannock Chase Salvation Army, said families were queuing outside before they opened and they have had their "busiest session yet".

A wide range of uniforms, covering schools across Cannock Chase, are available including plain grey and black trousers, and white shirts.

The scheme collects donated items from families as well as from primary and secondary schools.

Cox added the first session before the new school year was always the busiest.

"We've been doing it for seven years. We run it twice a year, so this is the big one before the start of the new school year, but we also run one in February to help people whose children have grown between those times," he said.

"People are struggling. It's not just the Cannock Chase district, people are struggling across the UK. It's a great expense if you have a child starting in September."

The market remained open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown periods, and they are also preventing waste, Cox said.

"All of the uniform in here would have gone to landfill previously," he added.

Staffordshire County Council Deputy Leader Hayley Coles visited the market praising the community effort behind the project.

"The pre-loved uniform market is a fantastic example of local organisations working together to support families and make a real difference in our communities," she said.

"As children prepare to return to school, uniforms can be a significant expense for many households, so being able to access good-quality items free of charge is a huge help. I would encourage families to visit the market and see what's available."

Coles said there was potential to expand the scheme to other areas in the future, although doing so would be a logistical challenge.

The market will be open from 10:00 to 15:00 BST on Thursday, and from 10:00 to 12:00, on Friday.

Donations of school uniform are being taken at Cannock Library, Hednesford Community Library and The Salvation Army, Hednesford.