When it comes to school uniforms, there is a problem that no one wants to talk about. A fast search on Google reveals that schools all around the world (or more specifically, PTA volunteers) are buried under mountains of gently used school uniforms that they are unable to dispose of. During this time, parents all across the world are spending enormous sums of money purchasing new school uniforms.
A survey that was just published by Sainsbury\’s showed that over the course of their education, a child will wear an average of 480 different pieces of school uniform, which will cost their parents over £6,000.
Before the start of the new school year in September 2022, when families will be required to purchase a new uniform for their child, new legally enforceable guidance will require schools to make uniforms accessible for all students. We feel that the solution is to take an approach that is more friendly to the environment by reusing and recycling old uniforms.
In accordance with the new directives, educational institutions are required to ensure that students have access to gently used uniforms. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 350,000 metric tons of clothing are sent to landfills on an annual basis. If we can get families to opt for used uniforms, we can cut down on the amount of trash produced, as well as the emissions that come from the production of new clothing, and we can do so at a price that is more affordable for families.
According to Nadhim Zahawi, the Secretary of State for Education, \»School uniforms provide a sense of identity and community for children and young people, and they should be a real source of pride.\» However, it must never become a burden for the children\’s parents or an obstacle for the children\’s access to school. The school\’s uniform policy should be made public on the school\’s website, where it should be presented in a way that is unambiguous and simple for parents to comprehend.
How to change the course of events:
To discover out the reasons why schools and PTAs should sell used uniforms as well as the process for doing so, we had a conversation with Lindsay Goddard, a mother who is also a PTA volunteer in the city of Solihull. When working with local schools, Lindsay and Solihull Zero Wasters offer suggestions for environmentally responsible actions that can assist the schools meet their green goals.
According to what Lindsay has observed, there is an annual waste of 1.4 million usable school uniforms. But where is this enchanted location known as \»away\»? The explanation is that they are still on the planet and contributing to waste production. Now is the moment to reassess the system, since British households spend a total of £52 million each year on brand-new purchases.
There are four factors that will ensure the success of a uniform sale:
According to Lindsay, \»The most important thing that ensures the success of a pre-owned sale is making sure that it is accessible and simple.\» The key to maintaining support is to make sure that the uniform is presentable and in good condition at all times.
The previous year, while working as a team for a secondary school \’preloved\’ sale, we were able to sell a total of one thousand pounds worth of uniforms. Therefore, not only is this a terrific idea that is beneficial to the environment, but it also raises monies that are much needed as well.
Utilize digital methods to facilitate easier sales:
Organizing a school uniform sale can be a lot less complicated and time-consuming if you use internet marketplaces. You will no longer have to worry about other people rummaging through your beautifully folded clothes and causing a mess. Put all of the items, along with their sizes, colors, conditions, quantities, and prices, on an internet listing. Parents will click and buy. You may also take advantage of the marketplace feature that Classlist provides for this purpose. Marking your inventory with the tag \’uniform\’ will help to make it more easily searchable. Request that parents use the \»charitable donation\» button so that the funds you generate can be sent to the PTA at your school.
A helpful hint: the marketplace on Classlist includes a section labeled \»lost property,\» in which parents may publish information about objects that their children have either lost or found.
When the secondhand store has an excessive amount of inventory:
It can be challenging to donate extra stock to charities because they won\’t accept branded uniform items. Here are some ideas for getting rid of extra stock.
Using uniforms in size-specific bundles is a great approach to move more things at once. For convenient management throughout the year, store bundles in clearly marked clear cellophane clothing bags.
Subtly request that your school give out these sizeable bundles to needy families.
Distribute bundles of generic uniforms to nearby food banks:
Set up uniform \»swaps\» to encourage recycling. Run these based on goodwill. Ask individuals to drop off their gently used uniforms as they enter the building by laying out the uniform on rails in the school hall. Since you are merely doing people a favor and lowering waste, there is no need to handle a direct swap.
Visit the local preschools that provide children for your class and ask the teachers to let the parents know where and when you will be selling the smaller uniforms.
You\’ll get a voucher in exchange for bags of clothing if you bring them to the H&M clothes swap scheme, and you may use that voucher as a prize in a raffle if you like. There are further clothing exchange programs available at M&S, Oxfam, and Schuh.
Annual fancy dress requests:
During the course of the academic year, there are a number of occasions on which it is expected of the student body to appear in school wearing a costume. This may be for Halloween, World Book Day, Christmas, or Easter; the list is never-ending yet always the same. Lindsay proposes compiling a yearly list detailing what is required and when it must be completed, and then communicating this information to the parents at the beginning of the school year to eliminate any element of surprise. The next step is to urge parents to donate their children\’s old costumes and props to the school during a week designated as a \»costume drive.\» The PTA divides the inventory into sizes ranging from fifty pence to one pound for each item and then sells these items either at a large playground sale or online.
Lindsay said, \»Call on your PTAs and work together to put a stop to the mass purchasing of low-quality clothing that is shipped from China at the last minute, racking up thousands of air miles.\» Imagine the amount of money that would be brought into the school each year, the number of grateful parents, and the number of single-use things that would be saved from being thrown away. Because of this, people\’s behaviors are being altered, and as a result, the more you do this, the more interaction you will receive.
Make it enjoyable and engaging for the students; consider involving them in the money collection, sorting, and labeling.
Utilize stained attire:
Sometimes something will have been utilized too much to pass on. Using a worn-out summer pinafore, you may quickly construct scrunchies or even a no-sew cushion cover to sell at your summer fair! Bunting, souvenir teddies, and even quilts can be made by seamstresses with more advanced sewing abilities. All beautiful things to cherish long after your school days are finished!