Liverpool businesswoman Kate Stewart has relaunched her school uniform appeal for a fourth year, calling on people to donate to help disadvantaged families in Merseyside.
Appeal launched to help struggling families
Kate Stewart, 44, originally from Clubmoor, created the appeal to help buy school uniforms for families who are struggling. People are encouraged to donate what they can, whether it's £2, £5, £10, £50 or £100, to help as many families as possible.
Kate told the ECHO: "Originally, I went and bought 250 school uniforms and gave them out. But we saw the response was astronomical, with hundreds of people applying. I just knew that we had to go bigger and better."
Personal experience sparked the initiative
Kate explained the personal experience that led her to start the appeal. She said: "The reason I did this was because I remember working at the heritage market, and I had my daughter. She was five-years-old and going back to school, and I'm going to be honest, I didn't have the money to buy a school uniform."
"I panicked, I was literally tearing my hair out thinking what am I going to do here? I asked my boss at the time if I could lend the money to get school uniform. I felt so embarrassed, so degraded, and low. He gave me the money for the uniform and told me 'Keep it, I don't want it back.'"
She added: "I was brought up by my nan who was a nurse, and she was all about helping people. She instilled it into us at a very young age that you help other people, that's what you do, you help the community and help people prosper. That has stayed with me. I've done well in business, but I've always made sure I give back and help."
Appeal reaches target within 90 minutes
The mum-of-four told the ECHO "it just shows how caring and loving this city is" after the appeal reached its target within 90 minutes. The JustGiving page now sits at £7,915, almost £2,000 over its original target of £6,000. In 2024, the appeal bought 4,827 items, with "250 people" queuing to access the support.
Kate said: "After the first year, the next year I did a video on my social media and a JustGiving page. Again, it just blew up. People were donating and asking what they could do to help. I think we did around £12,500, and were able to buy more and more uniforms. Each year it has grew, and we've had applicants from as far as Wirral, St Helens and Widnes."
"What you've got to understand is we're living in a cost of living crisis, this is people who work as well. People go to work, and just haven't got any money left when they've paid their bills, food, and utilities. There's no money left. Children returning to school is expensive. You've got to buy their uniform, stationery, socks, shoes and everything else."
"The thought of parents sitting there pulling their hair out, I just can't have it, I've got to do something to help."
Businesses encouraged to get involved
Although people are encouraged to donate, Kate is also encouraging barbers, hairdressers, and other businesses to get in touch if they think they have a service that could help a child returning to school. There will be an event on Sunday, August 30, with further information to be released.
Kate has had the chance to speak to some of the families who have used the initiative. She said: "Some of the stories you hear are harrowing. People have come along crying their eyes out saying, 'You don't know how much this has helped me, I've got three kids on my own, I work 20 hours a week and by the end of the week I'm literally on the breadline.'"
"That just powers me more to go bigger and better."
If you'd like to donate, take part, or want to find out more about how to access uniforms from the appeal, email hello@vitalityhomes.co.uk. Parents should get in touch with their child's gender, size, and what colours the school's clothing are.
