Crewe charity saves record amount of school uniforms going to landfill

A Crewe charity helping to reduce landfill and cut costs for parents with a school uniform recycling scheme has launched an appeal for donations.

As schools prepare to close their doors for the summer holidays, Her-Place Charitable Trust has urged parents not to throw away uniforms but to donate them to its Community Share Hub in Wistaston.

The women and girls charity aims to encourage a mindset of sharing and sustainability and provided a record 1805 recycled uniforms and 262 coats last year.

Charity founder Kate Blakemore said:

“Over the years, we have saved tonnes of unwanted items going into landfill, and sustainability remains key to our mission to recycle and support local families.

“We are working with as many local schools as possible to collect branded uniforms so we can offer these to parents free of charge and save quality clothing from going to waste.”

The charity, founded 10 years ago, runs community share hubs on Beech Drive in Wistaston and Finsbury Walk in Winsford.

They also offer school stationery, period poverty kits and baby clothing bundles as well as prams, double strollers, Moses baskets, cots and more – all pre-loved and like new.

Latest figures show a total of 77 families were supported with school uniforms in the period January to March alone this year and 53 received baby bundles.

Mum-of-three Kate added:

“These numbers are climbing all the time and will increase significantly now we have our Winsford base which opened earlier this year.

“Parents who use the Hubs come from all walks of life. Some can’t afford and others want to be part of a green-minded, sustainable solution.

“We expect stock to go fast during the holidays so we are particularly looking for branded school tops but also non-branded uniforms and winter coats ready for children to return in September.”

The scheme operates on a ‘no-questions-asked’ basis to encourage reuse of items which may have been worn just one school term and have plenty of life left.

Local clubs, including Nantwich Town FC, support the collection of football boots, shin pads and astro-turf trainers.

Her-Place volunteers look after rails of sweatshirts and polo tops bearing local school logos and there’s a mountain of grey school trousers, pleated skirts and coats of all colours and sizes.

They are on hand to accept donations and save more useable clothing from going to into waste.

People needing items are asked to email over a list to Hub@Her-Place.co.uk or phone 01606 557666 or text 07496 160930