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As September rolls around, many families find themselves with a long list of school essentials to buy. Every parent knows just how quickly children grow, and the constant need for new blazers, school shoes and PE kits can be a real struggle. If you could do with a helping hand this school year, there are local organisations you can use to help you with your back-to-school shopping list.  

1. Essex Free School Uniform Project 

The Essex Free School Uniform Project is a Colchester-based organisation providing new and used school uniform for free throughout the year. To request items, email uniform@dnanetworks.org or send a Facebook message with the size and colour you need along with any other school specifics. 

The items available have been donated by school parents, Parent Teacher Associations and businesses. Anything that can’t be reused is taking to recycling centres to make sure nothing goes to landfill. 

2. Laindon School Uniform Bank 

Laindon School Uniform Bank is open every other Saturday morning between 10am-12pm at Manor Mission Church in Laindon, Basildon.  

They offer free, second-hand uniforms and other school essentials. All the items are donated by local schools and members of the community, and the uniform bank is available for anyone to use.  

There’s no obligation to donate your child’s old school uniforms when you use the service, but donations are of course welcome if you’d like to. 

The upcoming dates are as follows, all from 10am-12pm: 

• Saturday 10 August  

• Saturday 24 August  

• Saturday 7 September  

• Saturday 14 September  

• Saturday 28 September 

3. Uniformly 

Uniformly is an online school uniform marketplace where you can buy, sell, and give away second-hand uniform.  

Items are either free or very low cost, and you’ll only see items from your child’s school. This keeps everything local, so it’s nice and easy to make the trade. Simply use Uniformly to contact a seller about an item, and then arrange to meet them at pick-up or drop-off time. If applicable, you can pay them there and then with PayPal Friends or cash-in-hand.  

If you have old uniforms that your children have now outgrown, you can sell them on Uniformly to other parents too. Not only can you make a little money this way, but it also helps to prevent perfectly good clothes from going to landfill – and helps out other parents. 

4. Supermarkets 

Don’t forget to check the supermarkets for offers too – often the summer holidays are the best times to buy school uniforms, with some supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl offering sets for just £5 from July until stocks last.  

Even without promotional offers, the supermarkets still tend to be significantly cheaper than specialist school uniform shops. Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Tesco for example stock uniform essentials from as little as £3 to £5.