School uniform pop-up shop in Harleston proves a great fit

A charitable initiative helping to ensure parents can afford a school uniform has been hailed a success after dozens of parents picked up donated items for free.

The giveaway was overseen by Carol Wiles with the help of two friends at the Swan Hotel in Harleston as part of a pop-up free venture.

It is hoped the event can provide regular assistance for parents, with future locations in the pipeline.

Mrs Wiles said: “The event at the Swan was very successful. It ran for 10 days and we had at least 200 people come to us looking for uniform.

“The events have been running since the beginning of the year and we have received hundreds of donations. One lady even ordered an entire load of new polo shirts online and had them delivered to us.

“People have been great and have really supported it, and we wouldn't have been able to do this without their generosity or the time given by volunteers.

“Robin Twigge very kindly allowed us to use the front rooms at the hotel for 10 days, which we are also so grateful for. With the change of design at Harleston Primary School, some parents really struggle to kit out one child, let alone two or three. We have hopefully taken some of the weight off for them.

“Many parents already choose between having to heat or eat. Having to find money for school uniforms when it has to have a logo is a real struggle for so many at the moment.

“We will continue to do these events for as long as people want them. This doesn’t only help families; it is an environmental issue too, as good clothes should be recycled. There is no shame in second-hand clothes and our pre-loved school uniform scheme is a fantastic way to do this.”

You can find our more about the initiative and future locations in the by searching Facebook for Preloved School Uniform – Harleston.