School uniform banks across the east midlands appealing for donations
Demand for second hand school uniform is growing with charities and organisations across the east midlands calling for donations already
Demand for second hand school uniform is growing, with charities and organisations across the east midlands calling for donations already - before classes have broken up!
A survey's suggested that over 40% of parents will now choose pre-loved items to help ease financial pressures.
It's as parents are set to spend more than £100 per child on "back to school" clothes.
Carly Salisbury is from the Derbion Centre in Derby, which help run a uniform hub with the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, she urges people to think of others:
"There are so many people and families in our community that are really struggling with the rising costs of school uniform, it's expensive. So yeah, this is the third year of doing it now.
"Last year we actually helped over 600 children and that equated to roughly about £7,000 worth of school uniform giving away.
"We start off by having donations in the centre, we invite anyone and everyone to donate any pre-loved school uniform. It can be branded or unbranded, any size... all we ask that it is in clean and good condition. We then collect that and we get it all ready to set up in our school uniform hub which this year is open between the 18th and 22nd of August.
"Children grow out of their uniform so quickly and it's hardly worn, and it's in such great condition. So rather than throw it away, there are people in our community that do struggle financially and do struggle to give their children new school uniform. So we just ask for those that can, and have the uniform to hand, please don't throw it away, please donate it."
The survey indicates one in eight start shopping for the new academic year during the first week of the summer holidays.
The average spend per child is £108.59 according to the research, which asked parents to estimate how much they usually spend on back to school clothing and products, per child, per year.
More than four-fifths (44%) of parents of children of school age splurge the most on shoes, while 16% said blazers are the most costly purchase and 11% splash the cash the most on stationery, according to website MyVoucherCodes.
The survey also found that 42% of parents now opt for second-hand clothes to help ease the financial burden.
A further 38% of parents said they have bought plain clothing and attach the school logo separately. Those who did this typically estimated they saved more than £40 per year.
One in eight (12%) parents surveyed start back to school shopping in the first week of the summer holidays, while 13% who are planning even further ahead start as early as April.
Sarah-Jane Outten, a shopping and money expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: "The cost of school uniforms and supplies can add significant pressure to household budgets, especially during the summer holidays.
"It's encouraging to see parents using creative and cost-effective methods like buying second-hand or personalising plain uniforms to save money. With a bit of planning, there are real opportunities to cut costs without compromising on quality."
Some 1,000 parents of school-aged children were surveyed by OnePoll in June and July for the research.