A council in partnership with three charities has launched a school uniform re-use scheme it is hopes will help parents with the high costs of branded items from limited suppliers.
Mid Ulster District Council has joined with three cancer charities to make it easier for uniforms to be left for re-use and then sold.
Collection banks are now in place at the council’s three main household recycling centres in Cookstown, Dungannon and Magherafelt where residents can deposit school uniforms for reuse.
Uniforms will then be passed on to the NI Hospice Shop in Magherafelt, Marie Currie in Cookstown and Cancer Research in Dungannon, and be available for parents to buy at reduced cost.
Councillor Dominic Molloy, Mid-Ulster chair, said: "School uniforms are expensive and it can be a huge financial burden on families, especially larger families having to purchase multiple uniforms.
"If this scheme can help lift the burden for even a few families, while also increasing reuse locally, it will be a huge success. I encourage residents to support the scheme."
"If you have uniforms that are suitable for reuse, just keep them separate from your other textiles and place them in separate banks at our three main recycling centres.”
The scheme is open for school uniforms of all ages, including nursery, primary and post-primary.
Children’s Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma last year urged Stormont and schools to “come up with a far more reasonable and affordable school uniform policy”.
Former Education Minister Michelle McIlveen increased the school uniform grant for low income families by 20% this year.
But Ms Yiasouma said parents are still struggling, with some uniforms costing up to £600.
