Uniform Pop-Up Shop

Aims

Local children to have access to free pre-loved uniform to ensure they have the items they need for starting (back at) school in September

Families who are struggling financially are supported with the cost of uniform

Families can find out about a wide range of local organisations who can support their family

Supporting our Green agenda- encouraging people to reduce waste and re-use

Help families feel more connected to their community

On the day

203 pre-orders of uniform were placed with Essex Free School Uniform Charity. These were all bagged up at their donation centre in Colchester and brought over for the event for families to collect.

219 attendees at the event on the day who came to either pick up their pre-ordered uniform, browse the additional uniform available, take part in arts/crafts or speak to staff from our service or others for advice/ support.

Several large tables of additional donated uniform were available for families to browse and help themselves to.

3x tables of arts and crafts and playdough were set up for children to take part in during the session. This meant that families could spend some time at the event, speak with staff for additional support and also complete some kindness colouring with United in Kind will pass on to lonely people in the local community (such as elderly residents in local care homes)

Free snacks and refreshments were provided for all attendees at the event. Fruit, biscuits and drinks were available for everyone and we were also able to provide most children with an additional piece of fruit to take away with them.

29 food hampers provided – funded through Holiday Hunger fund held by Chelmsford CVS. These supported over 75 children.

Range of toiletries/ sanitary products provided – donated by Morrisons Community Champion and Christ Church Chelmsford

Each food hamper contained; Carrots, cucumber, bananas, apples, rice cakes, crackers, breadsticks, wraps, tinned fruit, biscuits/ cakes. The food hampers provided families who were struggling financially with some snack items to support them with children during the school holidays

Feedback

How will this event/ the uniform you received support your family? (A few responses below)

Will ease money situation problems

Save money for food

A lot because my income is very low it’s really helpful

I am a single mum so this is extremely helpful

will help with the cost of uniform by supplying second hand

Helped with uniform also food for the family

It’s very helpful I am a migrant, I do not work and I am a mother of 4 children so for me it really help me a lot and I am grateful

Cost implication of uniform greatly reduced

Money is tight at the moment so this has taken some weight off my shoulders

Great to recycle and reuse

It takes the pressure off of my family financially

Other comments

Being able to also pick up some toiletries was amazing, we are often struggling for money and only ever able to get the real basics of toiletries, but being able to get some new toothbrushes and a deodorant today made me really feel like people care and that we matter

So lovely to speak to you all. Everything is really helpful and the food was a great bonus

Very organised and friendly people

30/31 people rated the event 5 stars

1/31 rated it 4 stars