Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Pupils can bank on us for all their uniform needs
Volunteers raising funds to help families
A school uniform bank helping youngsters get kitted out for classes across Airdrie has already helped 65 pupils at the start of the new term.
Now Airdrie community school uniform bank is aiming to raise £5000 to meet its increasing running costs for the next 12 months after a busy first year of operation.
Based in community space at Airdrie Academy, the local good cause provides two sets of school clothing to families who request their help, ensuring that pupils have all they need for classes.
The uniform bank relies on donations of outgrown and surplus uniform from pupils and families across Airdrie, but can also need to top up their supplies with clothing items in specific sizes to meet demand.
As well as polo shirts, skirts, trousers and ties, the uniform bank also helps in providing PE kits, shoes, jackets and winter coats – even schoolbags, stationery, toiletries and new underwear if needed.
Caldercruix mum- of- two Leeann Campbell has been volunteering with the uniform bank for the past seven months, and said: “Demand this year has been very high – we helped 65 children in the 10 days before schools went back.
“Lots of items families had before lockdown are too small, and families have people furloughed and are struggling to buy essentials.
“This year we’ve been inundated with requests for eight to 10-year-olds, and although we have had donations of recycled uniform, we haven’t had enough for that age group and have had to buy more uniform items to be able to accommodate these parents.
“We don’t turn anyone away and will help everyone who asks. We try to turn all the requests around in a day, although sometimes it takes longer to get what we need.
“This year there’s been a big increase in people needing shoes and trainers, with quite a few people struggling to get them – and what we do is free, confidential and discreet.”
Founded last year, Airdrie’s school uniform bank was initially set up with a funding grant of £3000 which helped meet costs such as the fuel needed for collections and deliveries plus funds to buy sought-after supplies which cannot be met from donations.
Now uniform bank volunteers are busy applying for grants and considering new ways of fundraising to meet the £ 5000 target they have identified will be needed to run their operation for the year ahead.
Leeann said: “We don’t just provide school uniform but also help with food parcels and toiletries. We have a good relationship with the foodbank and others like Cool School Uniforms in Coatbridge and Scotcrest.
“Diamonds in the Community recently worked with Teleperformance to supply lots of stationery which is being split between us and Cool School Uniforms and the Lanarkshire restorative justice team launder all the donated items and return them to us.” The volunteers are being supported by
Airdrie MSP Alex Neil, who is asking local businesses and individuals to lend their support following “an upsurge of demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
He told the Advertiser: “Airdrie uniform bank provides an invaluable service for the area – the volunteers who run it are amazing people who treat everyone with dignity and respect.
“Every child deserves to feel good about themselves at school without having to worry about how they’re dressed.
“Unfortunately, the affordability of uniforms is particularly acute this year given the very difficult circumstances.”
He added: “The grant for school uniforms isn’t paid out until September and very often it’s not enough to cover the full cost of the uniform.
“I’ve written to North Lanarkshire Council asking it to urgently consider bringing it forward.”
A council spokesperson said of the £110 uniform grants: “We began making school clothing payments in July to assist families ahead of the new term; there were some initial delays due to the Covid crisis.
“The vast majority have now been processed and we are working through recently- received new applications and others which required additional information.
“To apply, please visit our website or call 01698 403203 for more information.”
Airdrie community uniform bank can be contacted on airdriecub@gmail. com, 07985 519677 or on Facebook.
The same details can be used to arrange donations of uniform items or to the group’s funds.