Demand soars for free school uniform, says charity
Doreen's repurposes old uniforms and gives them to families in Hull and East Yorkshire for free.
A charity providing complimentary school uniforms reports a surge in demand, having assisted over 100 children in preparing for the upcoming academic year.
Doreen's, situated in Hull's North Point Shopping Centre, collects and redistributes unwanted uniforms to families across the city without charge. Ashleigh Hirst, co-founder of the charity, stated, "The demand is so high so we are just wanting to help with whatever we can."
Sam Singh, founder of Uniform Direct, which operates stores in Lincolnshire, noted that trainers and school shoes frequently represent the most significant expenses.
Hirst, 34, observed that the charity experienced an exceptionally busy week, with individuals forming queues outside the shop even before opening hours. "We knew that there was a need, but we didn't realise how big of a need there actually was," she commented.
According to the latest Department for Education figures, the average expense for a complete school uniform and PE kit is £442 for a secondary school student and £343 for a primary school pupil.
New regulations limiting branded school uniform items are set to take effect in September, aiming to alleviate costs for parents. The number of items, such as blazers, jumpers, or sportswear featuring a mandatory school logo, will be capped at three, in addition to a tie for secondary schools. The government anticipates these adjustments will save some families up to £50 per child.
However, Singh argued, "We believe that a cap on the cost of branded items and school uniform is the best way forward, rather than just capping the number of items."
Rosemary Randall, a mother of four children aged four, seven, nine, and 11 from Hull, expressed that the charity had "massively supported" her family. Hirst confirmed that Doreen's had supplied uniforms to between 100 and 200 customers in the past week. Randall estimated she would have spent approximately £500 on uniforms for her four children before utilizing Doreen's services. She identified the general cost of clothing, rather than branded items, as the primary concern.
The new uniform policy is incorporated into the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
Helen Barley, from Cleethorpes, who has two children aged 10 and 13, remarked that purchasing school uniform was "becoming increasingly more expensive each year." She noted that a pair of trousers and a blazer each cost her £25. "It all adds up and I try to save a little bit of money each month, put it to one side, so I know that it's for the uniform shop," she explained.
Hirst expressed her desire for school uniforms to be free for all children but acknowledged the government's changes as a positive initial step. "Anything like that would make a substantial difference to the families that we support in this area for certain," she affirmed.