Demand for our service has doubled since last year. People who could previously just about afford essentials for their children now cannot. The cost of living crisis has hit us all hard in different ways, but for the families we support things have become unbearably hard.

Every day our Family Support Team receives heartbreaking calls from families. Last week Katie called. She’s a nurse who works at the local hospital and has two small children. She called, close to tears, because her son had lost his PE kit and she simply couldn’t replace it. Her food bills have gone up so much, along with all the other costs in her household and she simply couldn’t put food on the table and replace the trainers, shorts and t-shirt that her son needed. We asked her to come down to our School Uniform Centre, where we stock everything for school so that families can come and choose what they need, and she broke down with the relief she felt when we gave her everything she needed. We also linked her up with some other support in the community to help ease the burden.

Thankfully, with your support, we can help so many more like Katie.

We can provide a young person starting secondary school with absolutely everything they need, including a new blazer and shoes and laptop for just £150. This would cost families over £700 otherwise.

Just £5 will enable us to provide polo shirts, shirts or a primary school PE kit to a child in need

£15 will give a child all of the trousers, skirts shirts and socks they need

£30 will provide everything a secondary school child needs for PE

£50 will provide a Blazer and tie

£150 will cover the full cost of providing everything a child or young person needs for school.

Your donation is vital to ensuring we can help these children and families.