Bellway helps primary school in Fradley expand preloved uniform scheme

The school has been collecting and redistributing school uniform items for many years. But the project has grown so much in recent times that a permanent place to store the clothing was needed and so a shed has been bought and set up thanks to support from the local community.

Now the school is ready to fit it out as a permanent storage unit and Bellway, which is building properties in the village at Sheasby Park, has donated £200 towards this.

PTA Treasurer Jen Simkin said: “Over the past couple of years, we've seen a growing need for preloved uniform. The challenges of kids growing out of uniform in five minutes, or losing jumpers, has been made worse by the rising cost of living.

“Our preloved uniform helps families to access good quality preloved school uniforms – reducing pressure on their household budget.

“We’d like to thank Bellway for their kindness and commitment to our community. Their support truly makes a difference.”

Previously Jen stored the uniforms in her home office and would deliver them to the school or arrange pick-ups from her home. She even cycled around delivering them directly to families during the pandemic.

But when the amount of clothing grew too big for that approach the school decided to create a designated place to store the items and appealed to local companies and groups for help.

Now the shed is in place thanks to donations from local businesses as well as grants from Fradley Parish Council and Fradley Open Gardens and help from local landscaper Anthony Mallender who prepared the ground for the new structure.

Headteacher Mike Dowd said: “We are incredibly grateful to Bellway for their generous donation towards our new school shed, which will be used to store donated school uniforms for recycling within our school community.

“Support from local businesses like Bellway makes a real difference, helping us provide essential resources to families while promoting sustainability. Bellway’s generosity will help to ensure that every child has access to the uniform they need, fostering inclusivity and support within our school.”

Rachel Marner, Bellway West Midlands Sales Manager, said: “The preloved uniform scheme at St Stephen’s Primary School makes such a lot of sense, as it eases pressure on families and makes good use of clothing items. It’s very sustainable and that’s something we are very much in favour of at Bellway. We were very happy to help with a donation and we hope that the uniform shed makes it easier to support the children who attend the school and their families.”

To find out more about Sheasby Park, visit the Bellway website or call the sales team on 01543 330152.