Middlesbrough councillor leads campaign to provide school uniforms
A Middlesbrough councillor's thanking the community who donated to her campaign to provide school uniforms to families who couldn't afford to buy them.
A Middlesbrough councillor's thanking the community who donated to her campaign to provide school uniforms to families who couldn't afford to buy them.
Longlands & Beechwood ward member Joan McTigue asked for donations from the community to pay for items of clothing including trousers, skirts, tights and socks.
Their generous contributions will help to ensure that no child at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School is left without a proper uniform as the cost of living continues to impact families.
Local resident Jackie Penrise helped out by scouring local sales to maximise the number of items bought.
Executive headteacher Liz King welcomed the donations, saying the uniform is central to the school’s identity: “At St Thomas More, we consider ourselves a family.
“We have such a distinct uniform and everyone knows that any child wearing it belongs to our community.
“These items will go to any families who for whatever reason find it hard to buy the uniform for their children, because the way things are just now, some families are really struggling.
“We constantly try to keep the uniform costs down and only have one school-specific item, which is the grey school jumper or cardigan with our logo on.
“The rest can all be purchased from supermarkets and similar places.
“It's lovely that Joan has thought of the school and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make this happen.”
Councillor McTigue, whose son attended the school, said: “I think children look smart in the school uniform and it makes them all equal, but some parents struggle to pay for them.
“I’m grateful to everyone who contributed, and especially newsagent Bay Bashir who provided a generous financial contribution.”