大象传媒

A mum in Leeds has told 大象传媒 Radio 5 Live how a scheme to recycle school uniform has helped her save hundreds of pounds a year, as well as reduce carbon emissions.

Louise Parker’s son grows so fast, his school jumpers and trousers need constant replacing.

“Being a single parent, I don’t have a big income,” says Louise, aged 34. “My child is seven but he’s the size of a 10-year-old. He goes through clothes at a rate of knots!”

As a teaching assistant, Louise would often look for unwanted items in the lost property box.

But now she is able to take advantage of a scheme running across Leeds to swap second-hand uniform.

At her school in Rothwell, parents can give away old jumpers, trousers and skirts over the PTA Facebook page.

Mums and dads from all schools in the area are also invited to come along to regular uniform exchange days which are held at a nearby town hall.

Louise says it has been a “massive financial help”.

“Why spend all that money on uniform that’s still in good nick?" she says. "Realistically it’s only going to go to landfill. Last year, with the pandemic, children have hardly worn it, so it’s practically new.”

The Leeds School Uniform Exchange was set up a year ago to make second-hand uniform the first choice in Leeds.

It’s part of the city’s plan to become a ‘Zero Waste City’ by 2030.

With funding from Leeds City Council and Leeds Community Foundation, the scheme has helped set up 99 exchanges and involved two thirds of schools across the city.

Gill Copeland, from Zero Waste Leeds, says it is the “best project” she’s ever worked on.

“As well as saving money, reusing uniform saves the environment as just one cotton t-shirt takes 2,700 litres of water to make,” she says.

“In terms of sustainability, why would you go and buy new, why would you spend the money, why would you wase those natural resources when there is great quality second-hand school uniform on your doorstep?” she says.

Gill has shared some tips for parents wanting to set up an exchange:

Use social media

The easiest way for a parent to set up an exchange is to use their own contacts through school and set up a WhatsApp group or Facebook group and invite all their friends to use it to start swapping and sharing school uniform. Just post a photo of what you have to give (giving it a quick iron and good lighting helps with photos) or put a request out for uniform you are looking for. It’s self-organising and easy – parents can arrange to drop or collect at school when picking up their children.

Think about logistics

If you are a school or community group wanting to set up a physical exchange (rather than a virtual one) you have to think about logistics. Do you have somewhere to put the clothes? What will you do with waste? Local textile banks can help.

Make it accessible

Put unwanted uniform out on a table at the end of each week or have a table at the summer/Christmas fair or sports day. Tell your parents about it - and keep reminding them!

Ask for help

Ask friends to get involved. Sites might need some moderation and the more administrators the better. It's also good to keep dipping in and out and be the connector between people and posts.
Involve children and young people in running exchange days.

Get the school involved

Publicity in schools is the key. Ask the school to help get the message out there.

大象传媒 Radio 5 Live has launched a year-long project to follow the city of Leeds as it aims to become net-zero by 2030. Read more about Leeds: City on a Mission here.