Churches urged to set up school uniform banks for struggling families

It comes as schools in England reopen after the long summer holiday.

Several congregations have already started projects which pass on shirts and jumpers to youngsters from disadvantaged homes – but it’s claimed more are needed.

Chell Parish in Stoke on Trent runs a school uniform bank in partnership with Tesco and has already helped 75 youngsters.

The church’s vicar, Chris Coupe, told Premier’s News Hour the church-led scheme saves mums and dads from embarrassment.

He explained: “There’s been 175 school uniforms given out and that’s an increase of almost 28 per cent on the year. The need is still growing.”

The project runs throughout the year but there is a big push during the summer to provide uniform before the new term of school begins.

Rev Coupe said more churches should start the simple and discreet service.

Sharing parent’s and children’s appreciation for the donations, he explained: “For them it’s a sense of relief, they’re pleased; they know that their child or children are going to be going to school dressed looking like every other child. Not in uniform that’s tattered or torn or outgrown or with no uniform at all. But rather they can go in with uniform that looks right – it fits.

“And their child just blends in with every other child – which is what the parents want and the children want – they don’t want to be different to their peers.”

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