Opportunity to pick up pre-used school uniform items during half term

Cllr Victoria Wilson in a Staffordshire Library

Families in Cannock are getting the chance to pick up pre-used school uniform items at two markets running during the half term school holiday.

The project is run by Staffordshire County Council’s libraries service and The Salvation Army.  It 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 next markets will run on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 February from 10am to 12noon & 1pm to 3pm.  Both markets will take place at The Salvation Army, 7 Anglesey Street in Hednesford.

Items available include jumpers, trousers and skirts.

Since launching in 2020, the project has helped local families save an estimated £89,000 and has given out more than 14,000 items of clothing.

Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said: “This is a great scheme that’s making a real difference to hundreds of families in Cannock.

“Kitting children out for school with uniforms can be expensive and when you’ve got more than one child, these costs can quickly add up.  This is where the project is able to step in and help, by providing those items of clothing either free of charge or at very low cost.

“I’d urge any families struggling with the costs of uniforms to get along to the markets at the Salvation Army and get what they need.”

The project is supported by Staffordshire County Council members across Cannock Chase, as part of the doing your bit campaign.  Items are also kindly donated by other families who no longer require them, which helps make the project possible.

Further details on the project and the markets are available on Staffordshire Libraries Facebook page.