Herefordshire charity aiming to support parents with school uniform costs
Its as nearly half [47%] of parents are worried about the cost of buying it for when the new school year starts
Children shouldn't be feeling left out at school because of things like their uniform says a Herefordshire charity.
Figures from a survey carried out by Censuswide between July 31 and August 7 have suggested more than one in four parents (29%) will go without food or heating to afford school uniform.
According to Parentkind, nearly half 47% of parents are also worried about the cost of buying it for when the new school year starts.
Herefordshire's South Wye Development Trust has been holding an annual uniform bank in recent years which allows families in the area access to free school clothing.
Chief officer Mandy Evans says they're set to hold another event this Friday (22 August) at the Kindle Centre in Hereford and it's important to have the support there for families.
"We just feel as a local charity that anything we can do to support families struggling with the cost of living it's worth doing," she said.
"What we we hope for is that all pupils, regardless of their social economic background, can feel that they can go to school with dignity and focus on their education rather than thinking they might stand out a little bit.
"I think it makes a real big difference, it also helps not only the financial constraint, but the kids to feel that they're part of something and they're going to have the same school uniforms and the same opportunities when they go back to school as everybody else in the school."
Evans also says the charity is thinking of holding one later in the year as well to give people a chance to get some of the winter uniforms.
The education secretary has called on schools to reduce the number of branded items of uniform they require ahead of an incoming change in the law.
Speaking ahead of the new term, Bridget Phillipson said no family should have to choose between "putting food on the table" and buying school uniform.
The government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes a proposal to cap the number of branded uniform items schools in England can require.
The Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, plans to require all schools in England to reduce the number of compulsory branded uniform items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary and middle schools.
It is due to come into force from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) said.
Schoolwear retailers have warned though that the cap could increase costs for families as they say it could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality items which might not last as long as branded items.