Making school uniforms go further in Cannock

The Salvation Army in Cannock, West Midlands, is running a school uniform market for members of the local community during this week, half term. The market aims to reduce waste to landfill and also save families cash in these challenging times.

The popular Pre-Loved Uniform Market (‘PLUM’) also ran in the last two weeks of August and saw 279 children, aged three – 16 years old benefitting, with quality uniforms that included blazers, shirts, PE kits, trousers and skirts being provided for free. The savings made to families collectively are estimated to be £13,900 and some families used the market as a ‘swap shop’, bringing items they’d outgrown, for the correct fitting items.

The average age of child benefitting from the market is eight years old, but children across all types of school – pre-school, primary and secondary are catered for. The market covered 41 schools in the area and most of the parents heard about the initiative through social media. Captain Lydia Bartlett said: “Removing barriers to education can be as simple as providing the correct jumper or pair of trousers.  This year we have seen such disruption to children’s education, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Let us all play our part in ensuring as many children as possible have a good and settled classroom experience.”

The pre-loved market is open from Monday 26th – Friday 30th October at The Salvation Army Church & Community Centre, Walhouse Street, Cannock, WS11 0DY and is part of a partnership project with Staffordshire Library and Art Service funded by local councillors, supermarkets and members of the public.