Demand for Second-Hand School Uniforms Rises in Somerset as Charities and Parents Respond

Charities and community groups in Somerset are reporting a surge in demand for second-hand school uniforms as families prepare for the new term, prompting appeals for donations and the expansion of local pre-loved services.

Barnardo's in Frome has put out an appeal for donated uniform after staff said they were seeing high demand. At the same time, parents across the county have been setting up and using Facebook groups to swap and sell items, while community organisations have broadened support for families who struggle to buy new clothing.

The Community Hub in Chard runs a pre-loved school uniform shop on a pay-as-you-can basis to help parents facing financial pressure. "It's pay-as-you-can so there's no pressure to donate at all. We just want to remove that pressure. It's a really expensive time for parents," said Tessa Goodridge-Reynolds, who helped set up the shop in 2022 in response to local need. The hub said more than 1,300 items had been distributed to families during a recent busy period as people prepared to return to school.

Organisers say the initiative responds to both affordability concerns and sustainability goals. "Part of it is sustainability, too. Isn't it great if we can swap and share and get as much use out of clothes as possible?" Goodridge-Reynolds added, noting that the service had been established after parents reported difficulty obtaining uniform cheaply.

Local Facebook groups have become another avenue for meeting demand, with parents using the platforms to offer outgrown items and arrange exchanges. Community-led schemes and charity appeals have grown in prominence at the same time as some families report tighter household budgets, organisers said.

The expansion of pre-loved uniform services in Somerset follows efforts elsewhere to support families with back-to-school costs. Charities and volunteer groups that operate donation-driven or low-cost shops said they were preparing for continued demand through term-start periods and urged members of the public to donate items that are in good condition.

Officials and volunteers emphasised that donated uniforms help reduce pressure on low-income households while also extending the life of garments. The initiatives in Somerset combine online community networks and physical shopfronts to make uniforms accessible to as many families as possible during a concentrated period of need ahead of the school year.