Parents 'cutting back on food' to afford cost of school uniforms, charity warns

Families are having to cut back on essentials like food in order to pay for school uniforms, a charity has warned.

Uniform banks across the country say they’re overwhelmed, with more working parents struggling to meet the cost of clothing ahead of the school year.

The Child Poverty Action Group said many parents are having to cut corners to make sure their children are kitted out.

Sara Thomson runs a uniform bank at the Leith Collective.

She told STV News: “We’ve got high, high demand for every single piece of clothing, shoes, pencils, pencil cases. It’s a lot more than last year.

Mum-of-one Martina is struggling with rising living costs STV News

“We’re seeing a lot more people who’re working full time, who are not getting the support they need. It’s maybe £100 alone on the clothes, never mind the shoes, and they can’t afford to spend it. It’s now a luxury item.”

Martina, a mother, who works full time as a teacher, says providing school clothing for her son can be very difficult.

She said: “I’m not on any benefits, and I struggle. The price of living, rent, electricity, it’s been absurd.

“If I can save £5 here and there, I’ll be able to bring home a different type of meat, a different fish. For me it’s important to have that, so if I can save here, I can give that to my children.”

Families on low incomes, or who receive certain benefits, may be eligible for a School Clothing Grant, of between £120 and £150 per child.

However, the Child Poverty Action Group says many parents who don’t receive it are struggling to afford the costs.

Uniform banks have opened across the country to help struggling parents STV News

Project manager Sara Spencer said: “We often hear about families cutting back on other essentials like food and bills to be able to afford the costs of uniforms.

“More money in family pockets is really important, and we could urge the eligibility to be expanded for the school clothing grant.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Local councils and individual schools decide on school uniform policy at local level.

“We recognise that many families are facing real hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis and so more needs to be done to make uniforms more affordable.

“That is why we will be introducing new guidance on school uniforms based on what we have heard from a recent consultation.”