Free school uniform scheme takes off

South Leeds parents are forging ahead with a school uniform scheme – that enables local families to donate, exchange or simply pick up uniforms for their children, all for free.

The project – which currently aims to cover all the schools in Beeston, Holbeck and Cottingley – launched last summer, and is now picking up momentum, and becoming well-loved and much talked-about. Following several busy events in the past weeks, forthcoming dates include: Tuesday 20 August, 4.30-6.30pm at Little Angels Playzone (formerly known as Adventure Kids) at Sugar Mill in Beeston; then again at Little Angels, 11am-2pm on Saturday 7 September. Other dates are due throughout the coming weeks and months across LS11, including stalls outside local schools.

Maureen Sawyer, one of the coordinators, commented:

“Lots of people are struggling to feed themselves, let alone buy expensive school uniforms – especially when the schools change colours and so on. But we’ve had a really good response, with loads of donations coming in. (Many of them said they normally just chuck the clothes away!) But people don’t have to donate or swap to join in: just come and take what you need. It’s just about all of us helping one another.”

For more info, watch out on the Save our Beeston, Holbeck and Cottingley FB group, or contact Maureen direct (here). The organisers are keen to work with others across LS11, especially to build links with all the schools – and they are happy to advise people in other communities, to set up their own schemes where they are.