A school uniform exchange programme in Co Tyrone is experiencing ‘huge’ demand ahead of its opening as its founder says families are being ‘crippled’ by the cost of living crisis.
The Omagh Uniform Exchange opened three years ago for parents of kids from local schools to pick up free uniforms ahead of the new school year. Volunteer and local teacher Cathy McNamee said they have had to stop taking orders online as the amount of requests has become ‘unmanageable’.
She told Belfast Live the cost of getting a child ready for school with the essentials now costs at least £300.
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“If you want to buy a very bog standard basic uniform, you’re talking at least £150. That’s before you buy shoes, bags and other school equipment.
“Most schools’ PE uniforms cost on average £85 to £100 for the full kit. So you’re talking about £300 to get a child fully ready for school and that’s with the bare bones.
“I just call September ‘open your wallet month’ because then you have things like home economics lessons, art packs. There are all of those other costs as well.
“Family incomes don’t stretch to that and those families that fall into that low income bracket are being squeezed and they are the ones that are really suffering.”
Cathy and her team of 30 volunteers are gearing up for a busy August as she says the messages have been coming thick and fast from parents looking to save on their uniform costs this year.
“The messages are coming thick and fast. We’re not doing online click and collect any more because we just got too big to be manageable.
“There is still a constant stream of messages to the page from people asking us if we have stuff. Early indications are demand is going to be huge.
“The cost of living at the minute is crippling for families, their petrol bills and even essentials like electricity and gas and food shopping is just crazy.
“There’s very few people that aren’t feeling the pinch and the price of uniforms seems to have even increased. Families are definitely feeling the pinch and there’s just not the same money available.
“This is why an initiative like this is so important. It’s so important to have an accessible means of uniform that is affordable and in good condition.
“We have a huge amount of stuff which is brilliant, people have really bought into it."
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