Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre provides school uniforms for almost 200 children
Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre has provided school uniforms for nearly 200 children at its fourth annual school uniform event.
The event, which has seen increasing demand each year, provides pre-loved school uniforms free of charge to families in need, ensuring that children are well prepared for the upcoming school term.
The event was held in collaboration with Wear2School, a local school uniform shop, who provided a collection point in their shop. Staff from the children’s centre collected donations over the past few months.
This year’s event included uniforms for both upper schools, the four middle schools, and eight lower schools in the town, as well as generic items such as trousers, skirts, shoes, and coats.
Around 120 families attended, and the children’s centre was able to provide uniforms for nearly 200 children. Over 90 families arrived within the first hour, with queues forming an hour before the doors opened.
One parent said:
This event has been a lifeline for us, especially with the cost of everything going up. We wouldn’t have been able to afford everything new.
Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children's Services, said:
Our children’s centres provide such an important service to our communities, and I’m pleased we have been able to support so many children to get ready for the new term. With the rising cost of living, the expense of new school uniforms can be overwhelming. As well as helping alleviate financial pressure on families, the school uniform event ensures that every child can start the school year on an equal footing, feeling confident and ready to learn.
As well as Leighton Buzzard, the Council has children’s centres in Sandy (also covering Biggleswade), Shefford, Stotfold, Flitwick, Houghton Regis and Dunstable. Full details of all the children’s centres and the sessions they run are available on our Family Information Directory.