A South London council has set aside £150,000 to help families pay for new school uniforms as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.
Wandsworth Council is allocating the extra cash to continue the scheme for a second year, after it first launched in 2022.
The scheme opened this summer and offers uniform vouchers worth £40 to kids entering reception, along with vouchers worth £160 for those starting secondary school. It is open to kids who receive free school meals and are moving into Reception or Year 7 this September.
The council has already given just under 1,000 uniform vouchers to families on lower incomes this summer, in the scheme’s second year, after contacting eligible parents to tell them how to access the support.
The scheme is part of the authority’s cost-of-living fund, which recently expanded from £5million to £10m.
The council is providing a range of support to residents with the fund, including food vouchers during the school holidays and free swimming and gym memberships for lower-income families.
The measures include providing council tenants with more energy-efficient and water-saving devices, securing low-cost internet connections and offering cost-of-living payments totalling £130 to pensioners who receive council tax reduction.
Regarding the uniform support scheme, Labour councillor Kate Stock, cabinet member for children, said: “People across Wandsworth are facing real hardship with the cost-of-living crisis showing no sign of letting up.
“Families shouldn’t have to face the dreadful choices of paying for fuel or food or buying a school uniform. We know how much this helped local families last year which made us determined to offer the support again this summer.
“The vouchers are easy to access and simple to use so we can look forward to all Wandsworth children turning up to school in September looking smart, full of confidence and ready for the year ahead.”
The authority said those who have not been contacted but think they are eligible for the uniform support scheme should email voucherandholidaysupport@wandsworth.gov.uk.
