A Second Life for School Uniforms
A town project is helping parents find affordable uniforms while keeping good clothes out of the rubbish.
Green Stitch, a community project in the town of Westbridge, collects second-hand school uniforms and passes them on to local families. It began in 2019, when a group of parents noticed how expensive new school clothes had become. Today, families can bring in uniforms their children have grown out of, and volunteers prepare them for another student.
Project organiser Helen Morris says the idea is simple. “We started by 1 uniforms to families who needed them. We now have more than forty volunteers, and the project is growing every year. It makes me feel 2 when I see how many people want to help.”
Parents say the service makes a real 3 to their household budgets. A complete uniform can cost a lot, especially when children need new sizes every year. At Green Stitch, most items are free, although families can make a small donation if they are able to.
Before clothes are shared, volunteers check every item. They wash what needs cleaning, sew on missing buttons and repair small tears. “We believe clothes 4 be used for as long as possible,” says volunteer Mark Ellis. “A small repair can make a big difference.” Items that are too damaged to wear are sent to a textile recycling centre.
One parent, Aisha Khan, first heard about the project from her daughter's school. “The uniform we received was in excellent condition. It was 5 , and my daughter was delighted. I also brought in two jackets that no longer fitted her. It feels good to know another family can use them.”
Green Stitch has also made a 6 to the local environment. Reusing clothes means fewer new items need to be produced, and fewer unwanted uniforms are thrown away. The group hopes to work with more schools next year.
In September, the volunteers will hold their biggest uniform 7 yet. Families will be able to drop off clean clothes at the community centre on Saturday morning. The organisers are asking people to check their cupboards and bring any good-quality uniforms they no longer need.