A SCHOOL uniform bank has helped kit out more than 100 children over the summer after reporting a huge demand for its services.
Shipley Area School Uniform Bank has provided uniform for 112 children from 79 families, providing them with other items including stationery.
The non-profit service, run by three volunteers based at Shipley Salvation Army, says it has sent out 748 items of uniform since June this year for 68 Primary school and 44 secondary-aged children. It has received a total of 2,260 donated items since June.
It helps children who are a resident of, or attend school, within one of the following areas: Shipley, Windhill & Wrose, Baildon, Idle & Thackley, Bolton & Undercliffe and Eccleshill.
The project, which opened in 2018, receives donations from the local community, both used and new items, which are then washed, quality checked, stored and entered into its database.
It then operates both a confidential referrals system and a 'pay as you can afford' drop-in system to ease financial strain on local families and promote re-use of good quality items. It uses both systems as some people prefer confidentiality and others prefer to come and see us and wish to pay a small amount to help us keep running.
Dawn Coleman, Shipley Area School Uniform Bank founder, said: "It's got really, really busy this year, particularly during the pandemic.
"We have had shedloads of new stuff.
"It's sad that people need this help. But it is good that it is there for people. We give people a massive range of items.
"The cost of school uniform is not about parent's income, it's about their disposable income. A couple of years ago it was said that a secondary uniform cost around £175, while for primary school age children it was around £100.
"I run the uniform bank with two other volunteers. It's a full-time job.
"We are temporarily using the hall at the Shipley Salvation Army while it is not open to the public.
"We're probably up to our limit for the six council wards areas."
Schools, community centres, religious organisations, health visitors and other organisations which work with families are able to make a confidential referral to the project.
A form is filled out, which does not ask for identifying details apart from which school the child attends, their year, house or group if applicable, which items they need and in what sizes.
If the bank can then fulfil the referral, the form is sent back to the referring agency along with the requested items which will then be passed on to the family.
If it is unable to fulfil the referral, the request is then added to a waiting list.
The uniform bank is open for referrals, but at present can only accept donations on Mondays between 10am and 1pm at Shipley Salvation Army due to Covid-19 regulations making it difficult for them to realistically work in any other way. They are unable to run pop-ups/drop-ins at the moment due to the pandemic.
The service is also open for donations for items on Friday, September 4, between 10am and 1pm at the Shipley Salvation Army, Rhodes Place, Shipley.
Go to the Shipley Area School Uniform Bank's Facebook page for more information.
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