Uniform Exchange – Uniform Exchange

Winter Coat Project 2020

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 01:25:46 +0000

Uniform Exchange Launches:
‘Winter Coat Project 2020’

Uniform Exchange

Will you
help us?

With 15,000 children in education in Kirklees living in poverty, the equivalent of 1 in 3 households, many vulnerable families across Kirklees are now reaching crisis level as we head into winter months.

A report released by The Trussell Trust, an NGO and charity that works to end the need of food banks in the UK, make for alarming reading reporting an 89% increase in the number of food bank parcels given out to people across the UK and a 67% increase in the number of household referrals to food banks earlier this year. With referrals to food banks continuing to rise, we anticipate increased demand for our Winter Coat Project this year.

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It’s going to be extremely cold this winter

and many children in our community are not ready for it.

As we head into winter...

To enable children to access classroom learning during the pandemic, measures introduced in schools include keeping windows open throughout the school day to minimise transmission of the virus, meaning that the need for adequate clothing is even more vital. Having access to a full school uniform and warm coat means a child’s attendance is much more likely to improve and allows them to focus on their learning.

The past nine years have seen Uniform Exchange collect and distribute school uniform and coats to over 7,000 children in the local community, enabling them to go to school in the right clothing. We want to continue to support these children through these cold months by supplying them with winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves and underwear.

Having your support in these cold winter months will help us ensure all Kirklees children have access to coats and underwear and feel happier to attend school; allowing them to be warm, feel included and are more inclined to learn.

Please help to spread the word!

Help us to help our children...
To ensure children don’t go cold this winter

To ensure children don’t go cold this winter and continue to access classroom learning, we are looking for donations of out-grown coats, hats, gloves, scarves, winter shoes/boots, socks and tights. They can be any size or colour as long as they are warm and in good condition.

We work with schools, charities, libraries and Kirklees Council to help families by providing their children with school uniform items free of charge. Uniform Exchange has received many grants but the scheme would not be possible without the support of our partners – from businesses and schools to other amazing charities.

You can drop off donations at many locations across Kirklees (click the link for the full list).

However, this year we will need much more support which is why we are calling on schools, businesses and community groups to support us! Why not have a collection in school, your workplace or even your neighbourhood? If this is possible, we can provide you with a collection box enabling safe deposit of donations.

We are working closely with local schools and children’s services to identify and support the families where there is a need. The Winter Coat Project will be slightly different this year but we are hoping more children than ever before will benefit from your generosity.

How you make a difference...

The feedback we receive makes the hard work worthwhile. Last week, we were given this note: “I just wanted to pass on a big thank you from the family, I took the school uniforms around today and they are very grateful. The boys and mum are really thrilled with what you have supplied, brilliant service.” The donations you make to Uniform Exchange stay local and go to families in your community. Any damaged items we can’t use go to Oxfam, who recycle them through their textile Wastesaver plant in Batley.

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Plea for Shoes with NCS Students

Uniform Exchange — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:45:16 +0000

A group of teenagers are getting in step with a Huddersfield charity kitting out needy children with school uniforms.

Students from the National Citizens Service (NCS) are helping Lockwood-based charity Uniform Exchange to collect items of uniform which are provided free for anyone who needs them.

At present, the charity has a severe shortage of shoes, especially for sizes three and above, so the 12 NCS helpers – who are all aged 15 or 16 – have been visiting local schools to collect unwanted footwear as well as other clothing. Their target is to collect a minimum of 200 pairs of shoes by this Friday (July 21).

People can donate unwanted shoes and other items of uniform in good condition – such as PE kit, jumpers, shirts and trousers – at schools, Kirklees libraries, Huddersfield Leisure Centre and the Sainsbury’s store at Shorehead. Each pair of shoes donated earns the giver a raffle ticket with a range of prizes to be won.

The NCS team were also fundraising for the charity by selling baked goods at Shelley Gala on Sunday (July 16). An Instagram campaign is also being run online to raise awareness of the charity and explain how people can help.

The charity was founded six years ago by project director Kate France after she saw the 2011 BBC documentary, Poor Kids, which showed the reality of widespread poverty in the UK.

The students are spending two weeks helping the charity as part of the NCS programme for young people which has also involved taking part in outdoor activities and learning life skills through independent living as well as working with charities or community groups.

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Struggling School Costs

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:50:11 +0000

Parents on the poverty line could have to spend two-fifths of their August income on back-to-school costs, according to latest figures from a charity. Now, the Examiner has learned 10,528 Kirklees families who were given grants between £28 and £31 in 2010 to kit their children out for school, could be anxiously trying to make ends meet ahead of the new school term. The Kirklees Council figures – obtained under the Freedom of Information Act – come as annual school uniform costs, including clothing, coats, bags and stationery was estimated to be £156 for a primary school child and £285 for a child at secondary school. The report, by Family Action, also revealed how some schools were making punishing demands on parents, requiring them to buy coats, blazers and sweatshirts emblazoned with special logos. In Huddersfield, the phasing out of Kirklees Council grants prompted mum Kate France to set-up the Uniform Exchange in 2011, to help local families by recycling school uniforms. “I’ve dealt with 70 requests in the last two days and am now getting about three requests a day,” said Kate, who is desperate for more school uniform donations to hand out free to struggling families. “I do not understand why one school can charge under £10 for a jumper with a logo, while others can charge £16 for the same thing. Often the same size, colour and even brand. That frustrates me and makes it harder for families.” She described the anxiety many parents face as they try to clothe their children for school each year. Kate added: “Children just want to wear what everyone else wears to blend in. It is so important for their pride and self-esteem. “I want people to know we are here and we can help.” Uniform items are available to any children in need through the Uniform Exchange. To make a request or call 07955 724789. Donations of old school uniforms can also be dropped off at any Kirklees children’s centre. Read more: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/10000-kirklees-families-could-struggling-5738735

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Recycleopedia

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:47:18 +0000

A grassroots organisation in West Yorkshire is recycling out-grown school uniforms, providing struggling families with items for free.

Families who have children in primary and secondary schools in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, are encouraged to donate ‘pre-loved’ school uniform to the project. Uniform Exchange then provides good school uniforms free to families who find themselves in financial need.

By helping families who are facing financial hardship, it allows children to be ready for school. Founder and project manager Kate France said the scheme also helps to reduce social isolation, enabling children to reach their full potential.

“By encouraging our community to recycle school uniform we have been able to help families send their children to school in proper uniform reducing the risk of bullying, building self-esteem and allowing the child to be proud of who they are and the school they go to,” she said.

5,000 items of good uniform have already been recycled.

Already, more than five tonnes of clothing has been prevented from going into landfill. Some 400 families have been provided with free school uniform and more than 5,000 items of good uniform have been recycled.

All the useable uniform collected gets recycled back into our local community while any unusable pieces are also put to good use. Rags get recycled through Oxfam, with Uniform Exchange currently delivering 150kg to the charity every fortnight.

As well as primary and secondary uniform items, shoes, coats, trainers, football boots, bags and socks are also included, with donations being dropped off via children’s centres and recycling bin drop-off points.

Families wishing to request a uniform simply fill in a form that can be downloaded at www.uniform-exchange.org

Kate said the scheme would not be possible without the support of partners – from businesses and schools to children’s centres – and has received several grants to support Uniform Exchange. She also said the feedback she receives from those who have been helped makes the hard work worthwhile. Last week, she was given a note which read:

“I just wanted to pass on a big thank you from the family, I took the school uniforms round today and they are very grateful. The boys and mum are really thrilled with what you have supplied, brilliant service.”

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Plea for more Donations

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:42:51 +0000

THE HUDDERSFIELD uniform exchange has made a plea for more donations.

Following Kirklees Council’s decision to axe the school uniform grant in April, mum-of-two Kate France set up the organisation in June to help poorer families across Huddersfield.

Together with the National Children’s Centre and the council the second-hand exchange system was established.

Sure Start Centres and primary schools, that are listed on the website, are taking in the donations which will later be collected by a Uniform Exchange volunteer.

All items are welcome including shoes, pumps, trousers, shorts, shirts and jumpers including those with the school logos.

Damaged items that are beyond repair will also be sold as rags to raise funds towards the project.

Kate said: “The cuts left many parents from disadvantaged backgrounds with yet another challenge – to provide uniforms to their children.”

For more information on how to donate and collection points

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Laundrette Firm

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:40:11 +0000

IT started off as an idea inspired by a TV documentary on child poverty.

Today Kate France’s Uniform Exchange, which provides free school uniforms for poorer families, is going from strength to strength. In the last 12 months alone she has help kit out 200 children across Huddersfield. Local businesses, schools and families have been a big help, donating thousands of items of school clothing to the project. And now Kate is celebrating another big boost to the operation, after a Paddock-based launderette offered its services for free. The firm, named Navy Whites, washed and dried bags of jumpers, shirts and trousers following an appeal by the mum-of-two. Thanks to staff’s efforts the uniforms are now ready to be sent out to the families who need them the most. Kate, from Nettleton Hill, said: “We get lots of uniforms from school lost property boxes. “It’s great that they give them to us but they get dirty in there and need washing. “I’ve been trying to do little bits myself but I’ve got 10 full bin bags and with my domestic machine that would be 20 loads of washing. “It’s hours of time and there’s no way I could have done it all myself. “I’m so grateful to Navy Whites for what they are doing – they’re even providing the washing powder!” Kate contacted the Market Street firm and they were more than willing to help out. Niki Lloyd, from the company, said: “We thought it was a good charity and she’s doing a good thing so why not? “There was eight months worth of washing and it took us five to six hours to do it all, but we’re happy to help again.” The Uniform Exchange will have been running for two years in July. It has been a huge success, with hundreds of families already benefiting from being handed free items of school clothing. Kate accepts items in any condition, with worn-out clothing sold for rags, and also takes sports clothing and anything which is school-related. She said: “They can be so expensive – a logo jumper alone can cost up to £30. “The project has been really successful and a lot of people have come on board and helped put. “Oxfam has been really good in looking for school uniforms that come in and sending them to me. “There’s a lot of gratitude. We had an email from a school just after Christmas saying thank you as the kids feel so proud of looking so good. “I want children to feel like that when they go to school rather than holding their heads low or being bullied.” As she looks to expand the scheme Kate has sent out 20,000 leaflets to schools in Huddersfield. She is also looking for a new premises to house the operation. It started life at the National Children’s Centre in Huddersfield town centre. The scheme then moved to the Olympus Technologies building in Firth Street after Kate appealed in the Examiner for a new location. Since August Kate has run the exchange from there rent free, but as the company now wants to rent out the space she is on the move again. She is appealing to businesses who can provide a clean, dry space sized around 1,000 square foot to help out. Kate can be contacted on 07955 724789. Read more: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/uniform-exchange-scheme-celebrates-boost-4928405

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KIAS

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:36:18 +0000

Providing a helping hand to families by offering FREE recycled school uniform.

Uniform Exchange aims to encourage the people of Huddersfield to recycle and donate old school uniform items rather than putting them in the bin. There are many families across Huddersfield who no longer receive a school uniform grant and would benefit from your generosity. By recycling old school uniform we can bridge the gap and help families send their children to school in proper uniform reducing the risk of bullying.

All uniform items will be gratefully received;

shoes, pumps, skirts, trousers, shorts, shirts, jumpers, t-shirts, dresses and coats including those with school logos. Damaged items that are beyond repair will be sold as rags to raise funds towards the project.

School uniform grants across the UK have been reduced, leaving many families without help. We are a group of Huddersfield mums that want to do our part to help those in our community. In partnership with Local Sure Start Childrenʼs Centres, Kirklees Libraries, and with support from Kirklees Council, we will collect unwanted uniforms, and get them to the children who want them the most, free of charge.

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Huddersfield Foundation

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:33:20 +0000

Jul 2013 The Town Foundation recently threw its weight behind a local community ‘uniform exchange’ initiative.

On Saturday 6 July, The Almondbury Schools Community Partnership collected out-grown school uniforms at their annual family fun day – with the aim to recycle them for use by Huddersfield families that need help.

The community partnership encouraged the donation of old school uniforms including polo-shirts; trousers; coats; skirts; shirts; jumpers; tights; cardigans; blazers; shoes; socks; jackets and trainers.

For a full list of uniform drop-off points, click HERE

Full information on the initiative can be found on www.uniform-exchange.org, via Twitter on @uniformexchang, on www.facebook.com/uniformexchange or by emailing info@uniform-exchange.org.

The Town Foundation’s Corporate Fundraising Officer Mandy Taylor commented:

“It was an easy decision to get involved with local lady Kate France of the Uniform Exchange initiative and when we learned that there was the event taking place within the Almondbury Schools Community Partnership over the weekend, we were keen to lend our support on this project as its aims echo those of the Foundation – to improve the lives of young people in our area.

“Initially the Town Foundation will work in partnership with Kate and plans to help by asking school partners of Huddersfield Town and schools involved with the ‘Early Kick-Off’ initiative to take part, but we would encourage anyone and everyone to donate uniform to such a worthwhile cause.

“We’re already planning further work and initiatives with this organisation in the future and hope to have some very exciting news to share very soon.”

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Crisis Appeal by Uniform Exchange

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:29:27 +0000

A charity which supplies school uniforms to Huddersfield families has hit a crisis. Uniform Exchange, which recycles school uniform and provides it free of charge to families across Kirklees, is running out of stock. The group relies on the generosity of Kirklees families passing on their outgrown or no longer needed uniform items to make the service work, and recently the donations have become less frequent and in some cases stopped altogether. Crisis point was reached last month when the charity ran out of royal blue jumpers and this week it was white polo shirts. Zoe, one of the volunteers who manages the requests is concerned. “White polo shirts are our staple, most requested item. Especially, if we have run out of the school’s preferred colour, we fall back on these and now there is nothing to give. “We are now having time after time to let families down and are not able to provide anything. This is very concerning.” Now they are making an urgent appeal to families to help the cause. Already, more than five tonnes of clothing has been prevented from going into landfill. Last year around 500 local families were provided with free school uniform and more than 4,000 items of good uniform have been recycled. Kate France, the Founder of Uniform Exchange said: “After starting the project in 2011, to help parents’ bridge the gap following the loss of the government voucher scheme, we successfully helped hundreds of children last year with school uniform, coats and shoes. “We want to continue to offer this service in the foreseeable future to support families across Kirklees.” She said that the feedback she receives from families makes the hard work worthwhile. Comments include: “I just wanted to pass on a big thank you from the family, I took the school uniforms round today and they are very grateful. The boys and mum are really thrilled with what you have supplied, brilliant service. “Just wanted to thank you for the uniform that you delivered to the centre last week. It all fits great and I could see the huge relief on mum’s face that she was sorted. This is a brilliant service!!!!!” The charity needs primary and secondary logo uniform items and items such as shoes, coats, trainers, football boots, bags, vests, tights and socks. Donations can be dropped off at Sure Start children’s centres, Kirklees libraries and other recycling bin drop-off points. Read more: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/crisis-appeal-huddersfields-uniform-exchange-11053546

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Bursting at the Seams

Uniform Exchange — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:23:05 +0000

A MOTHER-of-two who set up a recycling scheme has become a victim of her own success.

A year ago Kate France set up Uniform Exchange, which provides free school uniforms for poorer families, after watching a TV documentary on child poverty.

The scheme has operated very successfully out of the National Children’s Centre in New North Parade, Huddersfield, for the last 12 months.

But, a combination of factors means that Kate is now hoping a local business or organisation will step in to offer larger premises.

The Uniform Exchange has received thousands of items of school clothing and hundreds of bin bags over the last 12 months.

At the same time the children’s centre has had to reduce the amount of space it is able to give Kate for free.

This means that the Uniform Exchange is literally bursting at the seams.

Instead of it taking Kate five minutes to get a uniform together when a request comes in, it is taking her anything up to 40 minutes to find everything.

Kate, of Nettleton Hill, said: “The National Children’s Centre has very generously allowed me to stay in situ rent-free for the last 12 months. Their support has been crucial to the success of Uniform Exchange.

“Due to the constant influx of donations more space is required to store the school uniforms. Unfortunately, they now have nowhere for me to expand into.

“We are now looking or a new location. It could provide an opportunity for a local business to support a community project showing corporate and social responsibility without having to give anything away.

“They can be associated with our local project and, if they wish, their logo or name could be put on all future marketing material and on the website.”

Kate launched the scheme and a website at www.uniform-exchange.org a year ago by sending out 20,000 postcard-sized fliers to 80 local schools.

The whole operation is run on a shoestring and relies on Kate giving up some of her free time each week.

The Uniform Exchange currently has over 2,000 items of school clothing in stock and has benefited from some large donations over the last year.

Morrisons gave a staggering total of 35,000 items from end-of-line ranges. Most of these were socks, but there were also T-shirts, vests and shorts.

Two schools at South Crosland and Shelley gave many bags of lost property clothing. In addition, numerous families have donated outgrown uniforms.

Kate accepts items in any condition, as poor quality or worn-out clothing can be sold for rags, generating a further source of income. Nothing is wasted.

Uniform Exchange also accepts old shoes, pumps, schoolbags, sports clothing and anything which is school-related. Everything can all be handed on or sold and any proceeds from rags will go straight back into the scheme.

A full school uniform can cost up to £100 and Kate is keen to stress that the service is targeted to help those most in need.

Anyone whose child would benefit should fill in the form online at info@unifom-exchange.org. Any business which may be able to offer premises of around 45 square metres should contact Kate on 07955 724789.

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