School uniforms

The local authority do not provide any assistance towards the cost of school uniforms. Please contact your school directly to see if they are able to provide any help or support for families.

Please see below organisations across the Borough who provide additional support for families around school uniforms, what they provide, and how to access the support.

Kidsbank - Chester, Ellesmere Port and surrounding areas 4-11 years

KidsBank offers uniform support to families with Primary School aged children (4-11 years), who are experiencing hardship and who live within and attend a school in Cheshire West and Chester or Flintshire. They provide non branded items (without logos), and shoes.

KidsBank process uniform referrals twice a year:

Summer Uniform

You can submit a referral for summer uniform from 1 March - 31 March. These referrals will be processed and delivered during the Easter holidays so that it is with you ahead of the school summer term. Once your referral is ready, they will contact you directly to arrange delivery.

Autumn Uniform

You can submit a referral for autumn uniform from 1 June - 31 July. These referrals will be processed and delivered in the school summer holidays so that it is with you ahead of the new school year. Once your referral is ready, they will contact you directly to arrange delivery.

Families can complete a Self Referral Form:

A Professional Uniform Referral Form can be filled in and submitted by a midwife, health visitor, teacher, social worker, or other front-line professional:

Emergency Uniform Referral requests can be made outside these times by emailing info@kidsbankchester.com.

Free UniformS for School (FUSS) Ellesmere Port, Neston and surrounding areas Secondary schools

Ellesmere Port FUSS is a local charity which recycles great quality pre-loved secondary school uniforms in Ellesmere Port and Neston. Their aim is to collect good quality out-grown uniforms into the drums in Ellesmere Port C of E Collage, or The Whitby High School, sort and then give them away to families for free.

You can be kept up to date through Facebook and their website below where you can find out where to donate as well as requesting the uniform items you need.

Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) Winsford Northwich and surrounding areas primary and secondary

Green Uniform and Baby Co. (GUB) is a volunteer-led social enterprise based in Winsford that helps families manage the cost of raising young children. It does this by collecting donated school uniforms and baby items and making them available through a low-cost community shop, which keeps items in use longer and reduces waste.

In terms of uniform support, GUB provides affordable pre-loved school clothing for children aged 4 to 16, including both logo and non-logo items. The service is open to everyone, with no referral needed, making it easy for families to access support when they need it.

Alongside low-cost items, GUB also works supportively to help families struggling with school uniform costs living in CW6, CW7, CW8, CW9 and CW10, ensuring children have what they need to attend school. More information can be found on the GUB website.

Alternatively, you can contact them by email or phone:

• Email: admin@gubco.org
• Phone: 07835851908

If you live in Mid-Cheshire and are struggling with the cost of uniform, you can make an application for support:

Her-Place Winsford Hub Community Share Hub, Baby Bank and Edna Laundrette (Winsford)

Her-Place Winsford Hub stocks school uniforms, generic and branded items, stationary, and period poverty products. In addition they have fancy dress, prom dresses and suits and seasonal related stock including winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves as well as their Footlocker Scheme which empowers families to keep on playing sport they love.

For more information on the Winsford Hub please visit the link below.  For a request of uniforms or baby items please contact them below where their team will fulfil the request and notify you with collection details.

• Email: hub@her-place.co.uk
• Text: 07496160930
• Call: 01606557666

Grants available if parent/carer works, or has recently worked in the UK Fashion and Textile industry

The grants help low income families working in the UK fashion and textile industry who are struggling with the cost of returning to school. Items such as school uniforms, general clothing, sports kit and study essentials for children (aged 0 to 18 years) can be funded for families experiencing financial hardship.

To apply for the grants, one parent/carer must work, or have recently worked for, a UK fashion or textile company. For more information see School Uniform Grants.

Credit Union Uniform Loan – Opens annually in June

West Cheshire Credit Union provide a uniform load, available for families to help assist with the costs of school uniform. They offer a school uniform loan of up to £300, giving parents another option to turn to when it comes to meeting the costs. School shoes can often be one of the more expensive items of a school uniform, so small loans are available to cover this cost.

The loan scheme aims to complement other options that are available, such as School Uniform Banks, other school uniform providers and the preloved clothing sector – all of whom have a collective part to play in ensuring school uniforms are affordable.

Repayments can be made via your Child Benefit or by Standing order.