Leighton Buzzard children benefit from pre-loved school uniform sale
Tuesday, 29 August 2023
Around 180 children have received school uniform ready for the new term in September, as a result of Leighton Buzzard Children's Centre’s annual pre-loved school uniform event.
The children’s centre started collecting pre-loved school uniform in June, with the help of local school uniform shop Wear2School, which provided a collection point in its shop.
Staff collected the uniform in July, sorted and folded it and then divided it into different categories, for lower, middle, and upper schools. On 3 August the centre opened its doors for the event, with around 120 families attending.
The centre provided uniform for around 180 children, ranging from jumpers, blazers, PE kits, shoes, coats, shirts, grey trousers, skirts, shorts, and pinafores. Very few items were left at the end of the event, but those that were left were passed on to The COM Church in Dunstable, who hold a similar event at the end of August.
Centre Manager, Claire Racher, said:
This year’s event proved to be the busiest we have ever had, with families queuing for almost an hour beforehand to get their children much needed uniform for the new school year. We are so pleased to be able to help parents by providing good condition school uniform, while saving them money.
Councillor Hayley Whitaker, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
The popularity of this event really demonstrates why it was so important. It takes staff at the children’s centre months of planning to co-ordinate the event, but I know they are extremely pleased to have helped so many families.
As well as Leighton Buzzard, we have children’s centres in Sandy, Biggleswade, Shefford, Stotfold, Flitwick, Houghton Regis and Dunstable.