School uniform banks across the country are experiencing what they call 'panic week' as thousands of working families are forced to seek help ahead of the new term. Charities supporting parents with back-to-school costs are facing 'unprecedented' demand, helping to kit out thousands of children with essential clothing.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to drive up uniform prices to as much as £450 per child, uniform banks report an increase in working families who are missing out on uniform grants. Clair Coyle, who runs a uniform bank provided by West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare, said many working parents face a 'massive worry' over clothing their children for school as they just surpass the threshold for funding.
Working families seek help for the first time
She said: 'We find now more working families are getting in touch with us. Low income working families just missing that threshold for getting grant support and finding it difficult. We're hearing from a lot of working households that have never had to seek support before but because of the cost of everything they're having to contact us for the first time.'
'They're saying “because I'm working I didn't know if I should be getting in touch”. It's a massive worry for many parents when their kids are going back to school.'
The charity, which has been running for 13 years, identified the need for a uniform bank over a decade ago. The number of children supported has grown steadily, with 450 uniforms handed out last year. Originally a uniform recycling project, the charity now applies for funding for new uniforms.
Charities struggle with rising costs
Coyle said: 'We felt that all kids should be going back the same and feeling really good about going back. If children from families more affected by poverty can go back with a new uniform they would be more inclined to attend school and be open to learning.'
But the charity is finding its funding doesn't stretch as far as it once did. 'We're wanting the funding to stretch as far as possible and to be able to provide for every family that gets in touch, so we do spend a lot of time looking around different places to get as much as we can but we're seeing a price hike – the same with everything,' she added.
According to the Department for Education, the average cost of a uniform is around £350 for primary schoolchildren and as much as £100 more for secondary pupils.
Back to School Bank sees surge in referrals
Sandra Douglas founded Back to School Bank in East Renfrewshire over a decade ago. So far this year, her volunteers have helped find uniforms for 300 kids in the area through referrals, and many are working parents. She said: 'This week and next week is “panic week” as we call it – the weeks when parents haven't been able to buy a thing and they don't know what to do and that's when they come to us.'
'This year has been really tough. Finances are so stretched. It's so difficult to get the funding and prices are going up like nobody's business. We're feeling what parents are feeling.'
'People assume it's just people on benefits, but it's not. It's people in their own house, working, who can't afford the basic necessities. We help a lot of people in working poverty. They are not at the threshold where they get the grant but still can't afford to buy the uniform as they're not earning enough to match the prices. We're dealing with 15-20 referrals a day.'
Douglas noted that the amount able to afford to support their 'sponsor a uniform' appeal has halved over the last decade due to the cost of living. 'That's understandable as it's just everyday people locally doing this for us. It's still a lot of help. Our big aim is to be able to shut the door and not need to do it again.'
Government grant thresholds under scrutiny
The Scottish Government provided £14million for the school funding grant last year. Its guidance says families on low incomes should be able to access a minimum of £120 a year for a primary pupil and £150 for secondary pupils – figures which have not risen for four years. But eligibility is set by local authorities and can vary. Most councils in Scotland pay the grant to people on universal credit who earn a salary of less than £850 a month.
Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, said: 'We want to see eligibility thresholds for school clothing grants expanded to all families receiving universal credit, so more on low-incomes qualify and more children can learn and enjoy school without the stress and worry of not having the right uniform.'
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'We have committed to increasing funding in line with inflation during this Parliament.'
Families can visit their local authority's site. Guidance on reducing uniform costs can be found at mygov.scot/clothing-grants.
