At a time when a lot of families are tightening their belts, we’re aware that many could benefit from a little extra support when it comes to buying school uniforms and other essentials – such as coats and PE kits – that children need for school. That’s why we’ve decided to create a Trust-wide uniform bank of good quality, new and used items – providing a sustainable way to recycle and repurpose school uniforms.
This scheme also gives families – who have unwanted uniforms and items – the opportunity to make a difference to other children and help the environment by donating items and ultimately reducing the amount of waste that ends up in bins and landfill.
The bank will be located centrally at WPT’s Headquarters – where gathered items will be laundered, catalogued and stored – and families will be able to access it completely free of charge through the school and Trust website, where they can place item requests.
Items include:
- School jumpers
- Polo shirts
- Trousers
- School approved trousers (secondary)
- School approved skirts
- Ties
- Gingham dresses
- Coats
- PE kits
- Bags
The items will then be made collectable from school. However, due to our commitment to ensure that every family can easily access the bank – and do so without any stigma – we will also run community collection points and deliver items when necessary.
The ’Big Collection’
Of course none of this would be possible without the help of our Trust communities and families – here’s where we’re asking for support.
Easily accessible collection bins will open at each of our schools during the last week before the Easter holidays (w/c 28th March for Gainsborough and w/c 4th April for Rotherham).
During the week, families will be able to bring or send items into school and simply place them into the bins – we’ll take care of the rest! Families who are physically unable to get donations to school can let us know on operations@wickersleypt.org and we can arrange to collect them.
Throughout the academic year, we will be running multiple drives to gather what families need at specific times. For example, before the weather turns cold in the autumn, we’ll look at sourcing winter coats.
We’re also approaching high street retailers and other companies to ask if they wish to be involved in this scheme by donating items or selling them to us at cost. We would welcome contact from anyone who’s involved in a business and would like to partner with us. Similarly, if anyone knows of anyone or a business who may be interested in getting involved, please point them in the right direction – operations@wickersleypt.org. The more items we gather, the better outcomes we can get for our Trust community.
Items that we are unable to make use of will be passed on to charities for their use.
The Launch
We’re at the initial stages of the scheme and it’ll be a few months yet before we can start offering items out to families. Once we have sieved through and organised the donations, we will send every family the link to the webpage with instructions on how to request items. School staff will also know how to refer to the bank too.
Enquiries
For any enquiries about the uniform bank, please contact operations@wickersleypt.org.
