A charity school uniform bank (SUB) has been left out of pocket after a council refused their funding request.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) declined a community funding application for £5,000 from the local organisation, which aims to provide clothing for school children in need.
The Lisburn SUB has been left in debt after spending donated cash on a new storage and provision shed that they say they cannot now afford to run.
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Co-founder of the Lisburn SUB, Emma Davis said that many families in the locality would face increased hardship in buying school uniforms next term.
“This has taken the wind out of our sails,” said Ms Davis.
Since the SUB launched in May/June of last year it received 45,000 views on Facebook in the first four months of opening, with 1,500 families being provided with school clothing.
“It feels like we are having to start all over again, back to square one with all the money needed, now we can’t help those we thought we could’ve.
“We spent £2,500 on a new shed out of our donation money, that would have been used for new uniforms to help those who are really short on budgets, like parents with children at different schools, because we were led to believe that the application form for community funding was just a formality.
“Also, the council said it would help us with promoting the SUB last June when we opened, but we’ve never heard a word about that either.”
A total of 71 groups have been successful in their applications for funding from the council, with close to £250,000 hoped to be paid out. The funding, however, is dependent on the Stormont Department of Communities approving LCCC’s request.
The LCCC, whose Mayor Stephen Martin (Alliance) helped to launch the SUB last year, stated it could not comment on the reasons for the finance refusal.
“All grant programmes have set criteria and unfortunately on this occasion the Lisburn School Uniform Bank failed to meet two elements,” said the spokesperson.
“We recognise how invaluable the uniform bank is for our local community and staff will continue to engage with the organisation to provide advice and support.
“Sadly, we can’t share the two elements that the SUB failed to meet.”
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