Supermarket chain Asda is working with a children’s charity to help families who are struggling to buy school uniform.
The link up with Buttle UK comes after research from Asda found that more than half of parents in the UK are making sacrifices to be able to afford school uniform, including cutting back on food shops or energy use. More than nine out of 10 parents worry that their child will be bullied by having to go school in a uniform that doesn’t fit them and many have turned to friends or family to get help.
Asda has committed £125,000 to help children in low-income families get what they need for the next school year, providing George at Asda gift cards to Buttle UK to be passed on to families in need.
Liz Evans, managing director of George at Asda, said: “Asda Better Starts is our way to play our part, helping young people to reach their full potential by addressing the barriers that prevent kids getting on in life. By tackling hunger, breaking down inclusion barriers and boosting children’s wellbeing, we’ll support five million children within our Asda communities over the next five years.
“We already work alongside great charity partners including BBC Children in Need, FareShare, Rethink Food and Diversity Role Models to support thousands of children every year, and we are so proud of our community champions who make a huge impact in their local communities, delivering educational activities in schools and accessing grants available through the Asda Foundation, to provide essential resources to local groups.”
Joseph Howes, chief executive of Buttle UK, said: “The cost of living crisis is impacting us all, but buying school uniform – something that should be a great equaliser for children – is creating extra stress for those on the lowest incomes. We are delighted to be working with George at Asda on this campaign. Please consider making a donation to help give a child a uniform they can be proud of.”
David Buttress, the Government’s Cost of Living Business Tsar, has welcomed the partnership between Asda and Buttle UK.
He said: “We’re facing tough economic times and families across the country are feeling the pinch so it’s great to see Asda and Buttle UK stepping up to help children – providing £125,000 to ensure low income families have everything they need for the start of the new school year.
“In the weeks since my appointment, I have been working closely with Asda and other businesses to promote offers and customer support schemes as part of the Help for Households campaign. We’ve got more to do and more to announce – not just over the summer holidays but when kids return to school and in the run up to Christmas when costs are typically higher.”
* To donate £5 text BUTTLE5 to 70007. To donate £10 text BUTTLE10 to 7007. For more information and to support the campaign, visit buttleuk.org/uniforms
'She’s such a good kid and she deserves a lot more than she gets'
One woman helped by Buttle UK has welcomed the scheme.
Hannah has had a steady decline in her health over the last two years, forcing her to give up her full-time job. She says she has been left living “week by week” as the benefits she receives don’t cover the cost of heating her home and feeding her family.
She said: “The money that you get doesn’t even cover your basic needs of gas, electricity and food, never mind clothes. The pair of shoes I own myself are probably seven or eight years old.”
With the new school term ahead, Hannah faced concerns about how she would be able to fund her 13-year-old daughter’s school uniform. She added that she wouldn’t be able to manage the cost of the school uniform without Buttle UK’s support, which she heard about through Barnardos.
Hannah said: “We would have had to go without gas or electricity or we wouldn’t eat so my daughter would be able to have her uniform for school. Not being able to provide for your own child sucks. When I had her I was working full-time and everything, but now it’s just a case of living week to week and hoping that you’ve got enough.”
As well as school uniform the charity bought bedroom furniture and furnishings and other clothing, aimed to increase the daughter’s self-confidence and comfort at home. Hannah’s daughter is a young carer for her mum. She has had poor attendance at school in the past and has experienced bullying.
Hannah said: “I’m pretty lucky because she’s good at not over asking for things and she always says ‘only if you can manage, mum, it’s fine if you can’t’.”
She added: “Being able to decorate her room has probably made the world of difference to her. She’s such a good kid and she deserves a lot more than she gets. It’s nice to be able to reward her for all of the hard work that she does and give her something that she deserves.”
