A new law aimed at reducing the cost of school uniforms for families is set to take effect at the start of the new school year, but some community organizers believe it may not address the full financial burden.

The Department for Education (DfE) stated that some families could save up to £50 per child under the new regulations and that the government is supporting schools in further efforts to decrease the cost of individual uniform items. For the 2023/24 school year, the average total expenditure on school uniforms was just under £250, with the physical education (PE) kit costing approximately £140.

However, Michaela Wilson, founder of a community uniform and children's clothing bank in Colne, expressed skepticism about the law's ability to cut costs significantly. Wilson's initiative, started four years ago, provides free school uniforms to families. She described the bank as a significant way to recycle clothing, with parents exchanging uniforms as their children grow. "All that school uniform would end up in landfill otherwise," she noted.

Wilson suggested that schools could simplify the process by selling iron-on branded badges, allowing parents to purchase more affordable generic uniform items. She has observed a growing acceptance of second-hand clothing, particularly among teenagers, who are increasingly utilizing resources like her community bank.

The community bank operates by accepting donations of outgrown uniforms, which are then cleaned, organized, and made available to families free of charge, eliminating the need for formal applications. Wilson stated that the stigma associated with second-hand uniforms is diminishing, with teenagers actively seeking out pre-owned items for their own school wear. The initiative began as a temporary summer project but has continued for four years due to ongoing demand.

Micheala Wilson stands between two tightly packed rows of school uniforms on clothing rails inside a storeroom. She is reaching up with one hand to sort through a row of red sweatshirts hanging on black hangers