Posted on Tuesday 10th August 2021
(Left to right) Annette Beamand, Cllr Victoria Wilson, Cllr Paul Snape, Lydia Bartlett, Sue Ball
Families in Cannock continue to get help and access to free pre-used school uniforms thanks to a project now in its fourth year.
The Pre-Loved Uniform Market is run by Staffordshire County Council’s libraries service in partnership with The Salvation Army and is funded through county council community funding.
The project allows local families to pick up items of clothing at key dates during the year to help support them with their children’s school uniform needs.
The markets stocks school trousers, skirts, shirts, ties and branded school sweatshirts for all ages.
Last year, the project supported 408 children with free uniform, saving families in the area an estimated £20,400.
Furthermore, uniform items for 56 local schools were available.
The team are currently collecting, preparing and washing items ready for the next markets being held at the Salvation Army Church in Cannock from Monday 16th to Wednesday 25th August excluding Sunday 22nd August.
Markets will run from 10am to 1pm.
Anyone with unwanted or unused items is being invited to donate them at either Cannock Children’s Centre, Cannock Library or the Salvation Army Church.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said:
“This is a wonderfully simple project that helps hundreds of families with their school uniform needs each year.
“The project mainly supports vulnerable or disadvantaged families and works closely with local community groups and social services teams to identify families in need.
"Women living in refuge shelters with school age children can also access the project and if pre-used items are not available in some cases the project can fund the cost of new items.
"This enables children in these circumstances to get back into school as quickly as possible.
“Not only are we able to support local families by reusing the items of clothing but we’re also helping the environment at the same time by reducing the amount of waste items that go to the tip or landfill.
"I would definitely urge people to donate their unwanted items and we’ll make sure they go to a good home and are used.”
Lydia Bartlett – Captain of The Salvation Army Church in Cannock said:
“Removing barriers to education can be as simple as providing the correct jumper or pair of trousers.
"This year we have seen such disruption to children’s education, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Let us all play our part in ensuring as many children as possible have a good and settled classroom experience.”
Further details of the project and times of markets are available on Staffordshire Libraries Facebook page or by emailing kerry.hutchings@staffordshire.gov.uk