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The Cardiff model has reached more than 200 schools

A free swap scheme launched in Cardiff to help ease the cost of school uniforms is now being used in more than 200 schools. The network created by Jon, who set it up at his child’s primary school, has grown from a plastic donation box outside a house into an online platform, with 8,000 items of clothing changing hands between families so far.

The website, which opened in March, is said to have the potential to save families in Wales more than £50 million a year. Under the system, parents can list school clothes that still have plenty of wear left but no longer fit, while other parents in the same school community can choose the items they need and collect them locally.

Figures show why uniform costs remain in the spotlight

According to data from the UK government, the average annual cost of a school uniform is £343 for a primary school pupil and £442 for a secondary school student. For families with more than one child, that spending places a much heavier strain on the household budget.

Research by Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance found that about half of parents are worried about uniform costs. In Wales, eligible low-income families or children under local authority care can receive up to £200 per child in support, while in England the number of uniform items with school logos will be limited from September in an effort to reduce family spending.

  • Average annual cost for a primary school pupil: £343
  • Average annual cost for a secondary school student: £442
  • Support for eligible families in Wales: up to £200 per child

The scheme aims to change attitudes to second-hand clothes, not just save money

The initiative also focuses on sustainability by keeping usable clothing out of landfill. At Ysgol Treganna in Cardiff, lost property not collected by parents at the end of school terms is gathered and added to the system, with Jon’s children also helping sort the items.

How are parents and schools using the network?

Kingsbury High School in London is among the schools that have joined the network. At the school, which has around 2,000 pupils, the system is said to help families seek clothing support in a more discreet and comfortable way.

Parents can post the sizes and items they need on the system, while families who have the clothes can arrange collection among themselves. The aim is to make second-hand school uniform a normal choice, while strengthening both household budgets and the culture of reuse.

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