Here's how you can get help in Lancaster as school uniform costs spiral over £400

The Uniform Project, which was launched in 2018 as an arm of Morecambe Bay Foodbank, saw more than 70 referrals by families, usually with more than one child in the household, this June and July alone and is expecting this number to rise sharply as the autumn term quickly approaches.

“There’s always high demand for food parcels in August when children are at home on their school holidays but this year, real worries have been expressed by more parents about how they’re going to afford school uniforms for the new school year,” said Joanna Young, who is head of research and campaigns at Citizens Advice North Lancashire.

What’s being done about rising costs?

Concern is such that Citizens Advice has organised a research project highlighting secondary school uniform costs which it will share with local schools.

These new findings have been revealed just days before a new law forcing schools to remove unnecessary branded items from their uniforms becomes law in September.

This measure is primarily aimed at protecting families from rising uniform costs and Citizens Advice will be contacting local schools to make sure that they are aware of the new law.

The Citizens Advice research was carried out voluntarily by Cambridge University student, Jago Westaway from Lancaster, during his summer break. He costed up the cheapest and most expensive uniform prices for local secondary schools as of July.

What uniforms cost

The cheapest possible price for a uniform at Lancaster Royal Grammar School came out at £432.90 for a high end comfortable uniform for the largest pupils and £328.59 for a low end comfortable uniform for the smallest pupils.

Uniform costs at Ripley St Thomas CE Academy in Lancaster were the second highest at £360.40/£251.09. Uniforms at all local secondary schools hovered around the £300 mark for high end comfortable uniforms for their largest pupils and more than £200 for low end comfortable uniforms for the smallest pupils.

The Lancaster Guardian’s own research shows that high end primary school uniforms could cost up to £100.

“Citizens Advice is extremely concerned about families on low incomes who are facing difficult choices this winter as some are expecting electricity bills which alone are more than their income,” said Ms Young.

“We hope that schools will take this into account and have a clear understanding of the demands on families at the moment.”

Foodbank manager, Briony Scott, who also runs the Uniform Project, said: “Demand for uniforms this year is way higher than last year.”

Whereas in the past, a family might need just one blazer per household, this year more uniform items are being requested, including essentials such as new underwear and socks, for more children in a household.

The Uniform Project also has many requests for skirts, trousers, winter coats and for new school shirts.

Demand is particularly high for uniforms for Our Lady’s and Central Lancaster High Schools, and Bay Leadership and Morecambe Bay Academies where the free school meals rate is also the highest in the district.

How and where to get help

Central Lancaster High School principal, John Cowper, said: “We know that a new school uniform can be another expense at what is a difficult time for families with many rising costs. To support all parents/carers with children entering Year 7, we can help with the cost of new school blazers, as we have done for many years.

“Regardless of available income or financial status, we will continue to support parent/carers to prepare their children for starting school in September, and if anybody is seriously struggling with school related costs, we encourage them to contact us so that we can work together to overcome, where possible, any financial barriers they may face."

Some secondary schools, such as Lancaster Royal Grammar, have their own second hand shops and other means of support.

Headmaster, Dr Christopher Pyle, said: "We are very conscious that it can be expensive when children move to new schools. Most of our main school uniform is unbranded, and we are continuing to review our uniform to keep costs down.”

Primary schools can offer help too. “We have a very simple school uniform that allows parents to buy from places like Asda or Aldi,” explained Catherine Armistead, headteacher at Skerton St Luke’s CE School which keeps a stock of donated nearly new uniform to share with parents who struggle financially.

However, some parents prefer to approach the Uniform Project for help rather than the schools themselves.

“We know that schools do support families but those who are struggling sometimes feel a sense of shame and pride and would rather come to the Uniform Project so their child can turn up to school looking smart and ready to learn,” said Ms Young, who is also a trustee of Morecambe Bay Foodbank.

The Uniform Project is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who will wash and sometimes repair donated items as well as sizing and arranging them. The Project also provides a delivery service.

Although its current stock is healthy, blazers and logoed items are particularly in demand.

Anyone needing the Uniform Project’s help can self-refer via an online form at https://morecambebay.foodbank.org.uk/uniformproject/ More information is available on this website or by ringing 01524 932001 or emailing [email protected] These are also the contact details for anyone wishing to donate to the Project.