Clitheroe Uniform Exchange provides relief to struggling families

A school uniform hub will take place in Clitheroe in a bid to ease the financial pressures faced by many families ahead of the new academic year. 

The Salvation Army in Clitheroe will hold its annual school uniform drop-in on Friday 15 August between 10am and 2pm at its church and community centre on Lowergate, Clitheroe. New and pre-loved school uniform items will be available covering all ages, and all seasons, as demand for help increases. 

Anyone can access the uniform hub, with all items available free of charge thanks to clothing donations from local schools, businesses and members of the Clitheroe community. With more people being pushed into poverty, The Salvation Army is expecting demand to be higher than in previous years.  

Elizabeth Smith, church leader of Clitheroe Salvation Army said: “Our uniform hub has been running for a few years now, initially to ease the financial strain on low-income families that purchasing new school uniforms can cause and also to stop good quality clothes with a lot of life left going into landfill. But in recent years, we are finding that working people and two income households are also accessing this service. 

"Nowadays budgets are pushed to the brink and many people are living day-to-day, wage packet to wage packet. When families have more than one child to provide for, uniform costs can climb into hundreds of pounds, an amount that many simply don’t have. 

“Our uniform hub is here bridge the gap and ease the financial burden for the families who might struggle to buy uniforms when already budgeting to keep roofs over their children’s heads and food in their tummies." 

The uniform hub is a cost-effective alternative to buying new school uniforms and will offer shirts, polo tops, trousers, jumpers and skirts, as well as sportswear, blazers and some branded items for schools in the Clitheroe area. Donations of pre-loved and new school uniforms are welcome and can be dropped off at the charity shop within the community centre.  

Elizabeth added: “Our uniform hub provides good quality pre-loved school uniforms and people are welcome to take what they need, and we encourage others to leave what they no longer use. Our focus is on helping all families facing the practical and financial challenge that modern life brings.” 

For people who can’t attend the open day, they can call The Salvation Army direct on 07709 352 383 to request uniform items. Emails can also be sent to clitheroe@salvationarmy.org.uk.