CLOTHING Coventry has been given a much-needed £10,000 cash boost so they can help up to 1,000 students receive a new uniform ahead of the new school year.
The donation has been made by the Coventry Building Society to help ease the concern of families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Cash will be used to replenish the supply of high-demand items such as secondary school blazers and shoes.
Coventrians will be able to access it every Tuesday and Thursday between now and August 25 from 10am until 2pm.
Families will be able to collect school uniforms for free at the Salvation Army or donate clothes their youngster has outgrown.
Clothes donations can also be made at CBS branches throughout August.
Clothing Coventry was formed in 2020 and is the only project in the city to offer access to clothes for those in need, including those who are homeless and asylum seekers.
They also have 13 community clothes rails at venues across Coventry where people can help themselves to the items they need.
The CBS community manager Anna Cuskin said: “Clothing Coventry is doing a tremendous job of getting seasonally appropriate clothing to those most in need in our community.
“With back-to-school season upon us, we wanted to show our support with a donation which will help ease the burden for families who may be worried about uniform costs.”
In June, the Observer reported on a study by the end child poverty coalition which revealed more than 31,400 Coventry children were living below the breadline in 2021/22.
Clothing Coventry founder Katie Wilson added: “The average cost of compulsory school uniform is £101.19 which is a crippling amount to a family already in poverty.
“We’ve seen children missing school because they’re ashamed of how they look, and parents crying because they can’t afford items of uniform.
“We really appreciate this amazing donation from Coventry Building Society which had all our team in tears of gratitude, but the popularity of the uniform bank means we still need donations of second-hand uniforms.”
