‘Not having a school uniform has a serious effect on a child’

GEORGE AT ASDA AND BUTTLE UK ARE ADDRESSING AN ISSUE CAUSING MISERY FOR MANY CHILDREN

Raising kids is a pricey business, but for many families, rising living costs mean even basic items are now a stretch.

With the cost of kitting out a child for a new school year now as much as £175, many children are missing school, unable to meet basic uniform requirements. Here, Ffion Haf from children and youth poverty charity Buttle UK explains what this means for children – and how we can help.

“Recently, we’ve seen a huge rise in applications for financial support. Sadly, when families are focused on putting food on the table, school uniforms tend to fall low down on the list of priorities.

“I’ve seen the impact wearing a clean, good-quality uniform can have on a child, helping them feel settled and confident. Ill-fitting or incorrect uniforms can make kids feel incredibly self-conscious, and maybe even miss school, which has a serious effect on their education and development.

“Uniforms should make school a level playing field – nobody is wearing anything different and the focus is on important things like learning and making friends. But increasingly, we’re seeing families who can’t afford to buy them.

“It’s not just families living in poverty, either. We work with victims of domestic abuse, who often have to leave home in the middle of the night with just a bag, moving to a new town with no family support. It means kids start new schools (which is traumatising enough) without a uniform and feeling like they don’t fit in. The impact on their emotional wellbeing and education is huge.

“Having a clean uniform should be a basic requirement. School is where children learn, yes, but it’s also where they make friends, meet positive role models and are given opportunities. We want to make sure all children are given a chance to experience that, no matter their circumstances.”

I’ve seen the impact wearing a clean, good quality school uniform can have on a child

FFION HAF, BUTTLE UK