The Preloved Uniform Market is offering free school uniform items for children who live in or attend school in the Cannock Chase area, helping families prepare for the new school year while easing the cost of back-to-school shopping. The market is available at The Salvation Army, 7 Anglesey Street, Hednesford, until Friday, August 21.
Market delivery and opening times
Delivered by The Salvation Army Church and Staffordshire Libraries with support from Tesco and Morrisons, the market runs from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 19 August, 10am to 3pm on Thursday 20 August, and from 10am to noon on Friday 21 August.
Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, visited the market on Tuesday to meet volunteers and see first-hand the support being offered to local families. She said: "It was wonderful to visit the market, meet the volunteers and see the difference it is making for local families. The project has already helped thousands of children across Cannock Chase and continues to provide vital support as families prepare for the new school year."
Uniforms available for many schools
Organisers currently have large quantities of items for Kingsmead, Gorsemoor, Cheslyn Hay, Five Ways and Staffordshire University Academy. Items are also available for St Luke's, Longford, St Joseph's, Cannock Chase High School, Pye Green, St Peter's and Littleton Green, alongside uniforms for many other local schools.
David Cox, from The Salvation Army Church, said: "The Pre-Loved Uniform Market project is in its seventh year and so far we have collectively helped families with school uniform for over 2,000 children in the Cannock Chase area. It is a great example of the Salvation Army working in close partnership with the local libraries and businesses with the support of some of our amazing volunteers."
Impact on families and community
Since the project began in 2019, more than 2,400 children have received uniform items through the scheme, saving local families an estimated £120,000. Coles added: "There is still plenty of uniform available, so I would encourage anyone who may benefit from the scheme to come along before the market closes on Friday. It's a fantastic community effort that is helping families save money while ensuring children have everything they need for a positive start to the new term."
