Manchester children’s charity Wood Street Mission has seen a big increase in the numbers of families referred for help with school uniform in time for the new school year.
The charity, which launched a major new initiative earlier in the summer SmartStart Manchester & Salford to help low income families with school costs, supplied school uniform worth over £85,000 to 1741 children and 835 families in August – figures up a third up on last year.
The increase has been driven by a big hike in the number of schools referring families for help with 330 schools across both boroughs making referrals.
Roseanne Sweeney, chief executive of Wood Street Mission said: “It costs on average £220 to send a child back to school in September. SmartStart Manchester & Salford helps kit out children in low income families for school so they can fit in and achieve and grow up to fulfil their potential. I am very proud of the help we have been able to give struggling families this year and look forward to extending the project in coming years.”
Families referred to SmartStart received school uniform with an average retail value of £102. Each family was allocated a virtual budget for their children which allowed them choose the uniform they needed most from a range of non-branded items including trousers, skirts, jumpers, shirts, blazers and fleeces.
Rowena Allen, marketing manager of Trutex, which supplied the uniform said: “Trutex were delighted to supply Wood Street Mission to enable them to successfully provide school uniform to those in need around Manchester and Salford. The scheme is a fantastic way to enable children go back to school on the same level as others. All Trutex uniform is “Made to Last” so these pupils will also benefit from high quality products.”
SmartStart Manchester & Salford aims to distribute one million pounds worth of school clothes and kit to low income families in the next four years. As well as helping with back-to-school costs, the charity will distribute thousands of pounds worth of donations of uniform, sports kit and stationery throughout the school year.
