Families wrestling with the cost of living are struggling to meet the costs of school uniforms – so a Wigton man has stepped up to help.
Alan Pitcher has set up a school uniform bank for schools in the Wigton area.
People can offer uniforms they no longer need and they will be passed on to those in need.
Those with clean, serviceable school uniform which they no longer need can drop it off at Alan’s home, where it will be stored.
Anyone in need of school uniform can then contact Alan to see if he has what they need and, if he has it, collect it from him – completely free and with no questions asked.
Alan said: “I’m a trustee on the Citizens Advice for Allerdale in Workington. In a meeting last week, one of the trustees said that people are finding it difficult to meet the costs of school uniform. It’s especially hard for those with, say, four kids – it could cost them £200 each holiday. So I just thought, why not set up a school uniform bank?
“It’s only just started and I’m getting uniforms dropped off already. It’s here to help families kit their children out, hopefully saving some money and avoiding sending perfectly good uniform to landfill.”
Alan is looking for a larger storage space from which the uniform bank can operate, but currently the drop off/collection point for uniforms is Ellerburn, Cuddy Lonning, Wigton, CA7 0AA.
