A back-to-school community shop in Manchester, which gave out thousands of uniforms and other school goods free over the past three weeks, highlights the fact that many families cannot afford the cost of the new school year.
The community shop run by children’s charity Wood Street Mission had 592 visits from families in August with an average of 66 families visiting the shop every day.
Families were given credit to use in the shop, which was stocked with uniform and other day-to-day school necessities donated to the charity’s SmartStart project which helps kit out children for school.
A snapshot survey of families visiting the shop found that:
– 37% said they would have to borrow money to purchase uniform if they did not get help from the charity
– 47% said they would have to go without buying food or paying the rent in order to purchase uniform if it wasn’t supplied to them
– 77% said they needed help to afford the costs of uniform and other school goods at the start of the school year
Roseanne Sweeney chief executive of Wood Street Mission said: “It’s concerning so many families cannot afford the costs of the new school year without going without other essentials or getting into debt. We had families queuing from 7 in the morning to get into our shop because they were unable to buy basic necessities for their children like shirts, bags and even underwear.”
“We are however pleased that thanks to the generosity of our supporters we were able to relieve some of the financial burden at an expensive time of year and ensure thousands of kids can go back to school in the right uniform so they fit in with peers and can engage at school.”
The community shop was stocked with over 600 warm school coats funded by a £15,000 grant provided by the Brian Kennedy Trust. Linda Miles director of the Brian Kennedy Trust said:
“When we first heard about Wood Street’s SmartStart project, we were really keen to help as we appreciate how difficult it is for some low income families to buy school uniforms for their children. We also know how important it is that children arrive warm and well fed at school hence our decision to fund a large number of school coats. The Brian Kennedy Trust are really pleased to be working with the Wood Street Mission and admire the work they do in ensuring Manchester children are given every opportunity to have a fair start in life.”
In addition to the community shop, Wood Street Mission kitted out over 2000 children for the new school year through a catalogue-type system where families referred for help were able to get uniform sent direct to their homes by a well known schoolwear supplier.
