Free School Uniforms for Kids in Poverty (UK)

Hi, my name is Alkan, and I am a barrister. I've been living in south London for over seven years. With child poverty rates at an all time high (4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2019-20) and a sharp increase expected in the cost of living, many more families this year will struggle to afford the bare essentials needed to send their children to school ready for the new term.

Every year, families all over the UK must make a substantial financial outlay for school uniforms, PE kits and stationery. At the best of times, this represents a significant cost for many families, especially for larger families struggling to provide the basics at home. To me, it seems a tragedy that some children may not be ready to start their new school year with the confidence and basic dignity a school uniform affords. Other children will skip school altogether, unable to find the courage to face their teachers and colleagues.

My aim is raise £10,000 to be able to help them. £10,000 may not sound like much considering the huge scale of the problem, but it means so much for every child who benefits from our kindness and generosity. All funds will be allocated to the most deserving families who are on income support and government benefits up to a maximum of £100 per child.

I am confident that if we can give just a few pounds each we can make all the difference. People are having a tough enough time as it is, finding money for a school uniform may be too much to bear. I urge you to spread news of our campaign, send the link to family and friends, do anything you can to make others aware, and let's make sure our children are ready for school this September!