What do you do with all your preloved uniform? We would love it if you could donate any items to us. We will ensure they are sorted and back out in the community, reaching families who need help.
Please note we cannot take branded/school logo items
We have 4 brand new drop off points in Currie, Colinton, Fort Kinnaird and Ocean Terminal. Click the link below for a full list:
Our Trustee Julia was honoured to go to Buckingham Palace this week on behalf of all our hardworking volunteers and staff.
Julia & husband John got dressed up to the nines (then soaked to the bone!) at the event hosted by the Prince of Wales.
But what if they had worn their pyjamas instead? Would they have fitted in and enjoyed the occasion?
Clothes really matter, whether it’s a royal event or a wet Wednesday at school. Some children in Edinburgh have gone to school in their pyjamas because that’s all they had.
We work hard to ensure that every child has what they need to fit in and stay warm & dry.
It’s an honour to have our work recognised at the highest level.
We are excited to re-launch our school uniform referral service – Clothing Crisis Packs – for children and young people who are in exceptional need.
Many families can now access free school uniform locally through our pilot projects in schools and networks of community wardrobes. For others, it is usually best to support the family to maximise their income through a “cash first” approach so that they can buy school uniform themselves. A small minority cannot access any of these options, and this is when our Clothing Crisis Packs are available.
If you are a professional working with families in exceptional need, please visit our website to find out more about changes to our referral system.
In the wake of a flood, the ESUB has made a significant location change, moving from our previous address at 1 Waterfront Avenue to a new home at 1 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park.
This move ensures the continuation of the vital service we provide to the community, offering school uniforms to families in need.
In our new location, we are set to carry on with our important work, undeterred by the huge challenges posed by the flood.
A £3,000 grant provided by Cash for Kids to Edinburgh School Uniform Bank marks a significant contribution towards supporting families in need within the city.
This generous donation will make a considerable difference by easing the financial burden on families when it comes to purchasing school uniforms for their children.
School uniforms are an essential part of educational life, promoting a sense of belonging and equality among students. However, the cost can be a barrier for many families, especially those experiencing financial hardships.
ESUB plays a crucial role in this context, ensuring that all children have access to the necessary attire without the stigma of financial strain. This grant from Cash for Kids not only highlights the importance of community support but also reinforces the idea that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic background.
The Morrisons Foundation has given us a grant of £10,000 to spend on outreach within Edinburgh schools.
This will help us expand our initiative of getting rails of brand new uniform into the schools that need it most around the city, giving children and young people instant access to important uniform items.
Our Operations Coordinator, Clare, popped into Morrisons to thank their Community Champion, Gillian.
This year, we provided 1,369 packs of brand new uniform as well as reaching an additional 1,000 children and young people by establishing school and community partnerships across the city.
As we take a break for Christmas we want to thank everyone who supports our work:
Our fabulous team of volunteers, they work so hard
Clare and Siobhan, our operations team – they make it all happen
The Trustees, the service would not run without the work you do quietly in the background.
Our supporters for their donations of uniform, funds and kind words that really keep us going
The local businesses that host our drop off points
The professionals out in the community working with families and ESUB to make sure children have what they need
Our funding partners who help us pay the bills
Thank you for giving children a chance to walk into school with their heads held high, ready to learn and play.
Could you buy a new coat, socks, leggings or joggers for a local youngster?
Here’s how:
Pop items into a drop-off point (locations are listed at https://bit.ly/3opKjov) We also welcome pre-loved coats in good-as-new condition at our drop-off points.
The Lord Provost and President of the One City Trust, Robert Aldridge, today (October 24) visited the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank (ESUB) in Granton.
After meeting some of ESUB’s staff and volunteers, the Lord Provost helped to pack a bag of new uniform for a child who has been referred to the organisation.
ESUB provides school uniform to children who are facing hardship so that they can attend school without the stigma of wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes, as well as giving them the chance to take part in sports and social activities.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and President of the One City Trust, Robert Aldridge said: “It was a real pleasure today to visit the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank. Through meeting some of the staff and volunteers I got an insight into the fantastic and essential work they carry out in communities across the city.
“However, it is a shame that in the year 2023 that organisations like this are still necessary to properly clothe our children and have them ready for school.
“I’m proud that the One City Trust can support organisations like ESUB, and I have no doubt that they will continue to make sure that no child ever wants for school clothes in Edinburgh. They have my full support and I look forward to working with them further.”
Trustee of theEdinburgh School Uniform Bank, Julia Grindley said: “For over eight years, Edinburgh School Uniform Bank has boosted the wellbeing and inclusion of the city’s most disadvantaged children and young people by ensuring that they can participate fully in all school activities with confidence, regardless of their family’s circumstances. We are delighted to show the Lord Provost around today.
“We work closely with over 100 schools and many other professional partners to provide new school uniforms, footwear, and other essentials to thousands of children every year. Many families are in dire straits, and children are going without. The cost-of-living crisis is making it increasingly difficult to keep up with demand for our services, and we need the support of the whole community, to avoid us turning families away.
“Today we are launching our Winter Warmers appeal. We hope that people and businesses all over Edinburgh will do what they can to make sure that every child can stay cosy and go to school with their head held high this winter.”
Parents having to fork out for branded school uniforms are being offered budget-friendly ways to keep the costs down.
The frugal experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have seen hundreds of mums and dads on their sister site ParentBible struggling to pay the huge costs associated with branded school uniforms.
Their army of parents have been offering helpful ways to save on the costs of the expensive outgoing.
Popular schemes such as uniform swaps and pre-loved giveaways are providing parents with extra support to help prepare for the academic year.
Ellie Macsymons fromNetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “We wanted to help parents who may be worrying about the dreaded costs of new school uniforms.
Parents are doing uniform swaps to save on the back-to-school costs/Image: Unsplash
“It’s becoming more difficult for families to balance household expenses during this cost-of-living crisis, which is why many are looking for money saving tips to spend less on new school uniforms.
“We’ve found some parents are joining online community groups to find second-hand uniforms as well as going directly to the school to receive free school uniforms.”
One parent, CJ Walt, said: “Top tip- join the secondary schools parents facebook groups – they’re always selling very cheap or free during the start of the six weeks as loads of kids are leaving or have grown out of their stuff. Then advertise your grown out stuff – works great and everyone gets a good deal!”
Another parent, Nicki Blair, added: “We put money away monthly from January for uniform, Xmas and birthdays.”
Don’t be afraid to use hand me downs. If a blazer for one child fits the younger one when they’ve outgrown it, then make good use of it. Don’t just share hand me downs with siblings – if you and your friends all have children at the same school, then make use of that network.
Uniform swap
It’s becoming a popular trend among parents to help save some extra cash. There may be an online group for your local school where you can easily swap uniforms such as a ‘year 4’ top for some ‘year 5’ trousers. It’s always best to do it just before the academic year starts.
Look out for ‘pre-loved giveaways’
Check around selling groups for members who are selling bundles of school uniforms as part of free giveaways. These are often first come first serve, so make sure to turn post notifications on!
Shop around at different retailers
Explore various shops which are selling packs of uniform items for your unbranded clothing.This will further help when buying multiple packs to last throughout the year.
Spread the costs
Have a look at where you can put away the spare £10 or £20 every week and allocate it directly for school uniforms. If you save these extra pennies, you’ll be able to have a higher budget for the start of the academic year.
Keep your eyes peeled
It’s always worth keeping an eye out for any discounts or voucher codes. These can make a big difference to the school uniform spend.
Go directly to the school
Many parents aren’t aware of this tip but heading straight to the schools is a great way to get free school uniforms. Lots of kits are donated at the end of the academic year and these are usually available for collection in the first month of re-opening.
Please note we cannot take branded/school logo items
Thank you 
Royal recognition for ESUB!
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