Luton charity helping families cut the cost of school uniforms
The charity's pre-loved uniform scheme is supporting families across Luton ahead of the new school year
A children's charity in Luton says its pre-loved school uniform scheme is helping families cope with the rising cost of sending children to school.
The Level Trust runs a Uniform Exchange, allowing families to swap outgrown school clothes for donated second-hand items that have been washed, repaired and checked before being passed on.
The charity says demand is highest during the summer holidays as parents prepare for the new school year.
Government figures show parents spend an average of £343 on a primary school uniform and £442 on a secondary school uniform, including PE kit.
Deputy CEO Kerri Porthouse said the scheme supports a wide range of families.
"We're seeing so many families come through our Uniform Exchange, not just families living in poverty, but people who are working really hard. Uniform is so expensive and every child deserves to have their education regardless of how they're living."
She said rising household bills mean many parents are having to make difficult decisions.
"School uniform is one of those things that people don't really want to spend that money on when they need to spend money on food or heating. So if we can just make a little bit of a difference for those families, it's really rewarding."
All of the uniforms are donated by local families, either directly or through schools. Volunteers sort, wash and repair every item before it's made available through the exchange.
Kerri said: "Our motto is, if we wouldn't put our own children in it, we wouldn't expect another child to wear it either."
The charity says the summer holidays are its busiest time of year, with demand expected to increase further over the coming weeks as families prepare for September.
The Level Trust says every child attending school in Luton can access the Uniform Exchange.
Kerri said the success of the scheme reflects the generosity of the local community.
"The community of Luton always rally together, and that is what makes it so special. Everybody wants to help everybody, which is why we see so many donations come through and so many families continue to come back to us with the exchanges for uniform."