Young people are failing to turn up for school because parents are embarrassed at being unable to afford to replace outgrown uniforms, campaigners say.
Families are also using loan sharks to finance uniforms amid mounting calls for more to be done to tackle the cost of kitting out kids for school. Details of the desperation faced by some people emerged after Education Minister Michelle McIlveen announced an increase to the school uniform grant.
The move has been welcomed, but with those at the coalface of dealing with increasingly desperate families saying more needs to be done to help people struggling to make ends meet.
Read more: Free school meals Northern Ireland: Campaigners question why 100,000 children fear going hungry
The Parents Engagement Group said that even with Monday’s increase, Northern Ireland uniform grants are still significantly less than those in Britain and the Republic of Ireland. They added that the Department of Education in Northern Ireland offers only ‘guidance’ to schools on uniform policy.
In England and Wales there is enforceable legislation regarding issues such competition between suppliers and schools being told not to insist on unusual colours or motifs on polo shirts meaning parents can source them from the high street.
Naomi McBurney from the group told Belfast Live the grant increase is welcome but cautioned it does not address the “root cause” of the problem which is that uniforms are “too expensive”. She added that research they carried out in August 2021 found that the average family was spending £173 on primary uniform and £378 on post primary.
The increased grants now mean parents of post-primary children can get £67.20 for school uniform plus £26.40 for PE kit while primary aged kids will get £42.90. In Scotland the post-primary grant is £150 while in Wales it is between £125 and £200 depending on the year group. In the Republic the post-primary grant is 275 Euro.
However, Naomi adds that the grants are only available to people on “very low” incomes but that they are dealing with many people who are ‘working poor’ and not eligible for the help. As well as addressing the grants availability threshold, she added: “We also need to see the current Department of Education guidance placed on a statutory footing.
"The Minister urging schools to regard guidance on things like ‘affordability’ simply isn’t working. School uniforms need to be available from high street retailers and we urgently need to move away from the overuse of branded items that push up the cost for all households.”
Naomi said she has noticed recently some primary schools are insisting on PE kits from well known sporting brands, adding “this cannot be allowed to become the norm”. She added that people are increasingly buying uniforms on credit and that she is aware of “worst case scenarios where people are using loan sharks”.
Paul Doherty, who runs the Foodstock foodbanks in West Belfast said he has come across the use of loan sharks by parents who cannot afford uniforms. He added: “We’ve been doing ‘pre-loved’ school uniforms for three years now and we see the community really coming together and sharing uniforms between families and that.
"But the pressure on people is just getting worse. The increase in the grant is a step forward, but sure a blazer is £90 so it doesn’t even cover that. It puts a real strain on people’s mental health.
"And that’s in previous years. In the next few months I’m concerned about what we’re going to see as people are so stretched. People are struggling to heat their home and put dinner on the table so when it comes time to buy a £90 blazer it’s going to be very, very difficult.
“I’ve dealt with a family where the child never missed a day at school and was doing well, but stopped coming. The teacher contacted us as they got to the bottom of it and discovered the parents were embarrassed they couldn’t afford the uniform the child had grown out of. We’re getting stories like that day and daily. Parents at rock bottom, the look on their face that they’re working but they have to come to us for help. It’s incredibly frustrating.”
Paul added that they have opened a new outlet for previously worn uniforms at their footstock unit in Andersonstown.
A Department of Education spokesperson said: “The Department is undertaking the Review of Free School Meals and Uniform Grant eligibility criteria and as part of that Review the Minister agreed, as an interim measure, to uplift the current rate of Uniform Grant by 20% for 22/23 year, as a contribution to the actual costs of uniforms pending the outcome of the review.
“The review is considering a number of options for free school meals and uniform grants, including the removal/adjustment to current thresholds for Universal Credit/Working Tax Credit as well as the potential to legislate on uniform policy.
“The Minister has made it clear to schools that every effort should be made to ensure school uniforms are as affordable as possible, in line with the department’s guidance on this issue.”
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