As the cost of living crisis continues, struggling parents are finding it harder than ever to kit their kids out for the new school year.

From shirts, trousers and skirts to summer dresses, PE kits, shoes and bags – even if you're lucky enough not to need branded items, the cost of school uniform can rack up.

Not to mention, the growth spurts kids go through, rendering some uniform you've already shelled out a small fortune on ... useless or barely being worn.

The Children's Society which has been campaigning for affordable school uniforms, estimates that the average uniform for secondary schools was £337 and £315 for primary schools PER YEAR – a whopping cost for parents.

And with family finances already stretched amid the cost of living crisis, many mums and dads are fearful about being able to kit their child out for school.

Thankfully, though there are some GENIUS ideas being set up around the country to help cash-strapped families pick up pre-loved uniform for FREE.

In Manchester, for instance, clothes racks have been set up in a shopping square in Sale, Trafford, featuring uniform from a number of local schools, with a sign that says: 'Please help yourself.'

Parents whose children have outgrown uniform that is still in decent condition are invited to drop it off there and those in need can 'simply take it from the rack.'

Posting on their Facebook page, Stanley Square Sale, organisers announced: 'The Great Big Uniform Drop Off is now OPEN'.

The post continued:

'You'll find the racks in Market Walk near Hiya. There is an array of new and pre-loved school-specific and non-branded uniforms available FREE to those who need them.'

Parents whose children have outgrown uniform that is still in decent condition were invited to drop it off there and those in need can 'simply take it from the rack.'

What a brilliant idea!

The post ended: 'The initiative will continue until uniforms run out and we will accept donations over the next few weeks and will let you know when this will close.

'We want to take this opportunity to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who has donated and made this possible.

Have an amazing week.'

And it's proving a HUGE help to struggling parents.

One wrote: 'This is a fab idea, I have lots to drop off to you x'

'What an amazing initiative!!' added another.

Meanwhile a grateful parent arranged for a blazer and jumper to be set aside for her son so she could pick up later.

It's not the only scheme helping families this summer though.

Many schools have set up their own swap shops, and there are other 'uniform banks' popping up around the country, including one collated by a charity in Hertfordshire.

Sebby's Corner in Borehamwood has opened a pop-up uniform shop this week selling uniform for a fraction of the price, thanks to donated items.

It says:

'We are delighted to be holding a Pop Up School Uniform Shop during the summer holidays thanks to a hugely generous donation of over 2,500 items of brand new, excellent quality uniform from a well known clothing store.'

Similar initiatives are being arranged via Facebook groups such as Uniform Swap Shop Gloucestershire .

One Facebook user commented: 'Such a great way to pay it forward. I picked up some trousers for my grandson, and then sent on some shirts to someone in need that were barely worn because of a growth spurt.'

Tony Martin, general manager at Stanley Square, explained how the idea came about.

He said: 'Following a passing chat with a single parent who told me of her struggles affording school uniforms, especially blazers for her two young children, I decided to run with the initiative of a new and pre-loved school uniform pop up.

'We reached out asking people to donate school uniform items that they no longer needed, I was blown away by the initial response and this week we started putting out the items for the community to take. It is going really well, and the feedback has been amazing with so many people saying ‘thank you’, initiatives such as this really do make a difference to people’s lives."

He added: 'With the cost of living rapidly rising it’s important that everyone helps each other the best that they can – with a stronger focus on sustainability people would much rather see good items going to use rather than being left or even thrown away – there is most certainly a wonderful community spirit around that is heart-warming to see.'

'It's a big problem', say charities

Charities are warning this year is particularly bad for parents struggling to afford uniform.

The number of referrals received by Togs, a charity shop in Dundee, has gone up by a fifth this summer. It’s currently providing uniforms for around 200 youngsters a month.

A Better Fit , which organises school uniform donations, said second-hand clothes they're given are leaving their warehouse as soon as they arrive.

Kathryn Wakeham, who set up the organisation in Cardiff four years ago, said the rise was 'over tenfold'.

'Most parents say they are able to source basics like the school trousers and polo shirts.

'But the cost of blazers and PE kits is astronomically high, and you need more than one.

'And often there is a complete school uniform change when children move years, so you have to buy new, regardless of the size of the child.

'It is really difficult for parents to keep up with the sheer amount of cost to kit a child out for school.'

School uniform grant – are you eligible?

There are grants available for children in low-income families, worth up to £150 per child , but how much you get, and if you qualify, depends where you live, so it's a bit of a postcode lottery.

In England, it's available for people on benefits including job seeker’s allowance, income-related employment or support under the national asylum seekers support system, or low income, though eligibility varies for each council. To find out if you're eligible and check how much you can get, click here.

In Scotland where children have already gone back to school, it depends which council you are in as to how much you get.

Primary school pupils who qualify for grants in the majority of local authorities are entitled to £120.

But pupils in some areas can get substantially more – including East Dunbartonshire (£240), West Dunbartonshire (£300) – as they have been allocated extra cash from the Scottish Government.

In Wales, it's slightly different.

The Welsh government said: 'Learners who are currently eligible for free school meals can apply for a grant towards school uniform, school trips, and kit.

'The grant this year is for £225 per learner, or £300 for those going into year seven to recognise the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.

'For this year only, the grants are an extra £100.'

Parents are still struggling

But Ms Wakeham said this was not enough.

She said: 'You could probably kit a child out for £150 in a primary school, but in high school it is so much more, and the money does not stretch far enough and it is means tested.

'We're seeing working parents finding things really difficult now, not just parents who aren't on such a secure income.'

Parent Tommy McKay has used a pop-up uniform bank in Monifieth for a second time this summer to prepare his two children for primary school.

'It’s just unsustainable,' he said. 'Especially when you’ve got shoes on top of that, you’re approaching £300 every school year just on clothes,' he said.

'Then there are water bottles, there are jackets, there are school supplies. It just gets too much.'

Do you have a pop up uniform bank for pre-loved uniform near you? Let us know by dropping into the Forum below.

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