It may be a while until the kids go back to school, but pupils across Biggleswade will be all kitted out thanks to a uniform drive that has received a huge number of donations.
Amy Pugsley has been collecting uniform from schools across the town with the help of the community, after deciding she wanted to make a difference.
She told the Comet: “A few weeks ago I was sat at Bedford Hospital and I was thinking to myself that life is too short and that I wanted to do something that could help the local community.
“I decided to have a school uniform drive so that I could try to help every child in Biggleswade go back to school in September with the uniform they need.
“My thought was that in the last few weeks of term, with children moving schools or moving up, they’d either be finished with uniforms or needing new ones.
“My idea was that anyone who had any uniform to give away could either message me and I’d collect it, or they could drop it at my home.”
In 2015, a government study found that 99 per cent of all parents and careers said their children required school uniform, including PE kit.
The average total cost of uniform was £212.88, but one-fifth had experienced financial hardship as a result of purchasing clothing.
This was part of the reason Amy decided to start her uniform drive.
She said: “For some people it can be easy to dispose of and replace uniform worn for a year.
“Some families out there, though, don’t have that option – and may not have proper uniform or decent school shoes at all.”
The people of the town have responded briliantly to Amy’s appeal after she posted it in the We Love Biggleswade Facebook group, and she has been inundated with school uniforms.
“People thought it was a great idea,” she said.
“I’d also contact the children’s centre and other local charitable organisations to see if they have any families that needed help.
“The response has been brilliant. I’ve received and sorted out around 50 bags of mixed uniform from people in the town.”
Amy is still appealing for more donations.
“I’d really like to hear from anybody that has surplus uniform for all Biggleswade schools to donate, and from people that need help,” she said.
“It would be great to receive some Stratton school uniform, as I haven’t had any from that school yet, if anyone out there has any spare.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here