Mum sets up school uniform donation day to help those in need

A mum is launching a school uniform donation day to help families in need get uniforms in time for schools restarting in September, Alison Spencer, 53, came up with the idea after she thought about how families in the area might be coping during the current pandemic. “We have a Covid-19 page for our area and someone asked how we were feeling about coming out of the pandemic,” Alison, who lives on the Mersey Bank estate, told the M.E.N.

“I said I was a little bit scared but also hopeful about the future. I mentioned that it’d be nice to have something set up for people to donate uniforms to those who might be struggling.“I was originally going to organise a ‘take what you want’ thing in my front garden but I found out the Barlow Moor Community Centre was reopening and asked them if they’d be able to host it.”

Alison, who has two sons Owen, 13, and Marcus, 11, said she has been inundated with donations since announcing the event.

Taking place on Tuesday (August 18), families in need will be able to visit the Community Centre and see if any of the donations are suitable for them to take.

“I could probably open up my own shop with the donations I’ve received,” Alison laughs.

“A lot of the local schools have also helped us out. The caretaker at Chorlton High School gifted us four bags of items from their lost property."Barlow RC High have also said they would be donating a uniform to a family.”

Alison said she hopes the donations, which comprise both old and new items, will be able to help families that are struggling a little more this summer because of the added pressures of the pandemic.

“I’m just hoping it will make such a big difference,” she added.

"One of my sons will be starting at Loreto in September so I know exactly what it's been like.“At a time like this, utility bills and food bills are higher. Knowing that you’ve then got to go out and spend up to £300 on a uniform can be really stressful, but to have that little bit of help might take that burden away.

The school uniforms available will be for Barlow Hall Primary School, Loreto College, Barlow RC High School and St Ambrose RC Primary School.

Read the full article here