A SECOND-HAND school uniform shop in the city is supplying almost a dozen libraries across Brighton and Hove with collection boxes for donations.

Smarter Uniforms is supplying 11 libraries across the city with collection boxes from today, so that parents can donate pre-loved branded and non-branded school uniform.

This milestone is a major move for Smarter Uniforms on its mission to help families save money and reduce the environmental impact of buying new uniforms, while fundraising for schools by reselling second-hand school uniforms.

After collecting and sorting unwanted school uniforms from primary and secondary schools, they create a high quality bank of branded and unbranded items that are then available to purchase at a low cost.

According to the city council, parents and carers that use the service have been saving on average up to £200 per child per year, with items starting from just £0.50.

Smarter Uniforms operates online and is also currently taking donations of branded and non-branded school uniform in person at Unit 1 at the Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU, from 12 to 5pm every Wednesday.

It will also take donations at the central section of the Open Market, from 11am to 4pm, on Thursdays and Fridays throughout summer 2021.

Director Siobhan Wilson, said: “By families donating uniforms that they no longer need to us, other families can save much needed money in these particularly challenging times.

"It also allows us to provide free uniforms to families referred to us by community organisations such as foodbanks.”

Councillor Sarah Nield, Brighton and Hove City Council’s lead member for schools, said: “The installation of Smarter Uniform collection boxes at libraries is an amazing step forward for both sustainability and supporting communities within Brighton and Hove.

“It’s important that as a society we move away from the current linear path to waste that we live by - where we buy, use and then discard resources that ultimately devastates our environment.

“What’s so amazing about installing Smarter Uniform collection boxes is not only that it will lead to a reduction in waste, but also providing many families with a cheaper sustainable alternative to buying new school uniforms.”

Collection boxes are being rolled out in libraries across the city today and will be available at:

  • Hove Library
  • Jubilee Library
  • Woodingdean Library
  • Rottingdean Library
  • Patcham Library
  • Hangleton Library
  • Mile Oak Library
  • Saltdean Library
  • Whitehawk Library
  • Westdene Library
  • Portslade Library

Partnered schools are below, however Smarter Uniforms also accept all non-branded uniform and sell those to any family in the city or beyond:

  • Balfour Primary School
  • Cardinal Newman Catholic School
  • Coombe Road Primary School
  • Dorothy Stringer Secondary
  • Longhill High School
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
  • Patcham Junior School
  • St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School Portslade
  • St. Paul’s CoE School
  • Varndean High School
  • Windlesham School & Nursery

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