Over £95,000 has been given to families struggling to meet the soaring costs of going back to school, following an opportunity for Family Action services to request uniform vouchers during the summer break.
As the summer holidays come to an end, most children are heading back to school for a fresh start in a new uniform. But for too many families, excitement is overshadowed by anxiety.
Right now, 1 in 3 families with school-age children in the UK are living in poverty. 28% of parents say they are finding it difficult to afford uniforms and back to school supplies.* For them, the average cost of a school uniform — over £90 per child** — just isn’t manageable.
No parent should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying school shoes, but that’s the reality for so many of the families we support. Children without the right uniform risk being singled out, missing out, or even being sent home – setting them up to feel excluded before the school year even begins.
‘Not just clothing, piece of mind’
This summer, £30 vouchers (per child) could be requested by Family Action services for the families they support, which can be used towards school essentials such as uniform, shoes and coats.
As this voucher roll-out comes to an end, we have already seen the incredible impact this has had on families as they prepare to get their children back to school.
One recipient from our Lifeskills service said,
I would like to thank you for the vouchers. They have relieved some financial burden on my shoulders and enabled me to purchase school uniform for my son for the new academic year… this support is not just help with clothing, it helped with peace of mind. Moreover, it is a good feeling to know someone out there cares about us.
The Bridge Young Carers Service & Young Carers Darlington told us,
We’re so grateful for the generous donation of school uniform vouchers for young carers in our service. These vouchers will make a huge difference for families, easing financial pressure throughout the cost of living crisis, and ensuring young carers – who often juggle a lot of responsibilities – can start the new school year feeling confident, included, and ready to focus on learning.
Thank you so much for the gift cards, I can't tell you how much I appreciate them... It was the final bit of kindness that made me cry, I was trying so hard to put on a happy face! Thank you again for all you have done for my family.
* According to a recent YouGov report
** Information taken from www.schoolwearassociation.co.uk
