Good as new T
he cost of school uniform can be a burden to parents, yet many children grow out of their uniform long before
it reaches the end of its life. A 2017 poll by Sainsbury’s revealed that a child will wear an average of 480 items of uniform clothing over the course of their school days and that parents will spend about £6,000 in total on school uniform. Offering a second-hand uniform service at your school helps parents with the cost of uniform, while at the same time raising money for the school and keeping perfectly usable items out of landfill. Expanding your service to include textile recycling or finding creative ways to reuse what you can’t sell will further lessen the environmental impact of uniform production and disposal. ‘Parents love a bargain, and they want to do their bit for the environment too, so
22 SUMMER 2020
pta.co.uk
this kind of service is win-win for all involved,’ says Nathalie Dawson, PTA secretary at St James’ CofE Primary School in Cheltenham.
A well-run second-hand uniform
operation: l helps all families get school
uniform at a bargain price l provides a way for parents to pass
on items they can no longer use l raises money for the school – even
if fundraising isn’t the main focus l creates a culture of reuse and mend.
Appoint a uniform
coordinator Uniform coordinator is an ideal position for someone who is organised and methodical. Could you find someone to take on this role from outside the parent community, such as a grandparent who enjoys working with textiles?
THE PLAYGROUND SALE PTA secretary Nathalie Dawson and preloved uniform sale coordinator
Selling second-hand uniform can raise valuable funds, as well as reducing waste and helping those in need. Here’s how to make it work for you…
Rachel Reisner hold seven preloved uniform sales a year in the playground at St James’ CofE Primary School, Cheltenham (412 pupils). ‘We started using the word “preloved” instead of “second-hand” about three years ago as it has a more positive connotation and has helped people understand what we’re trying to achieve. Our sales are eagerly anticipated and held at the start of every half term. We also hold a special sale at the end of the summer term, known as the “Get ready for September” sale. Parents can see we have carefully selected only uniform that’s in great condition and that we keep it well and display it neatly. For maximum visibility, we set up two tables near the school entrance so everyone walks past them. Sales start shortly before the end of the school day and last about 30 minutes. We try to make things as simple
as possible for busy parents. Items are neatly folded (Marie Kondo- style!) in large, clear boxes and labelled in size order. We provide laminated price lists so people can see the prices clearly (and to save paper). We sell branded jumpers and cardigans for £2.50, summer dresses cost £2, and branded PE T-shirts, polos and all grey uniform sell for £1 an item. We only accept cash and take £80-£150 per sale, generating
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