School Uniform Scheme

This year’s scheme will be delivered over a 7-week period from 8 July 2024, where residents and drop off and pick up any school uniforms and school-related items.

This scheme was initially piloted across the borough in July 2019 and has been providing good quality pre-worn school uniforms ever since.

This has been a lifeline for many families who are struggling with the current increased cost in living.

Our Poverty Action Group took this initiative forward as the rising costs of school uniforms is a source of emotional and financial stress for many low-income families.

In some cases, families have described having to choose between eating and getting their children kitted out for school.

This has also pushed some families into debt.

It can cost families up to £350 per child to buy school uniform ready for the new academic year.

This places additional stress on families.

In these tough times with budgets already stretched, it could be ‘make or break’ for some of the households of the 30,000 school-children in our borough. 

What can be donated?

The school uniform scheme is accepting all clean, good quality garments including blazers, shirts, blouses, ties, polo shirts, trousers, shorts, skirts, pinafores, summer dresses, sweatshirts, jumpers, cardigans, PE kits, PE equipment, school bags, school shoes, trainers, football boots, hockey sticks, coats and waterproofs jackets.

School Uniform Scheme Drop Off and Collection Points

For your convenience, donations of good quality, clean school uniforms can be dropped off to each of our Pop-Up Shops (locations below) and uniform items can also be collected between Monday 8 July until Friday 30 August 2024:

Ballymena

Retail Unit 58-59, Tower Centre, Wellington Street, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT43 6AH

Monday to Friday between 10am - 2pm.

Larne

4 Upper Main Street, Larne, Co. Antrim, BT40 1JZ

Wednesday and Thursday between 10am - 2pm

Carrickfergus

2 Joymount, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, BT38 7DN

*Monday and Tuesday between 10am - 2pm

Please note – uniform drop off / collection is unavailable during 5 – 9 August in Carrickfergus.

Additional days / times may be added throughout the Summer, dependent on volunteer support.

This year we will be asking for a minimum donation of £1 per item, with nylon blazers £2 and woollen blazers £3.

Funds will be in aid of the Poverty Action Group.

Please note:

There is no qualifying criteria or referral process.

People can go along and drop off uniforms, however if they have nothing to donate, they can still pick up anything that they need (subject to availability) throughout July and August.