Our charity shops give away over 50,000 free school uniform items

Community initiative surpasses last year's total by 24,000 items thanks to generous donors

Salvation Army charity shops provided over 50,000 free school uniform items to families across the UK this summer, helping thousands of parents prepare their children for the new school year.

The initiative, delivered by Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), which manages over 250 Salvation Army charity shops nationwide, distributed over 53,300 items of school uniform during this year's Back-to-School season. This represents an increase of over 24,000 items compared with last year's total of just over 29,000, a rise of 83 per cent.

The free uniform campaign offers families access to good-quality pre-loved school clothing, alongside new items donated by corporate partners, helping children start the school year with confidence while preventing usable clothing from going to waste.

Nicola Crawford, Director of Retail at SATCoL, said: "We are incredibly grateful to every person, school and organisation that donated uniform items to support this year's campaign. Thanks to their generosity, we have been able to help thousands of families at what can be a financially challenging time of year. The demand we have seen demonstrates just how valuable these initiatives are. Families are looking for practical ways to reduce costs, and many are also making more sustainable choices by embracing pre-loved clothing. It's wonderful to see so many families benefiting from good quality clothing that still has plenty of life left in it."

The campaign highlights the important role charity shops play in supporting both people and the environment. By giving donated school uniform a second life, the initiative helps reduce textile waste while ensuring quality clothing reaches families who can benefit from it most.

Garry Smith, Director of Mission at SATCoL, said: "Every school jumper, shirt, cardigan and pair of trousers donated has helped make a difference to a child and family somewhere in the UK. The success of this campaign shows what can be achieved when communities come together to support one another. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed. As families continue to face financial pressures, the need for affordable and accessible clothing remains significant. Donations to our stores help us continue supporting local communities while raising funds for the wider work of The Salvation Army."

SATCoL is now encouraging people to continue donating second-hand school uniform items to their local Salvation Army charity shop throughout the year. The organisation is also calling on businesses and manufacturers to explore opportunities to donate surplus school uniform stock and enable families to access free items as part of next year’s campaign.

Nicola Crawford added: "This initiative would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors, and we hope its success inspires even more people and organisations to support our work."

To find your nearest Salvation Army charity shop or donation centre, visit: Find Us - Salvation Army