Uniform for All Supports Families with Free School Uniforms
As children across the UK participate in ditching their school uniforms for a day to raise funds for Comic Relief, a Greater Manchester-based charity that has assisted thousands of families through recycled school uniforms is set to receive financial support.
Uniform for All is a community initiative dedicated to recycling school uniforms for schools in Rochdale. Since its inception six years ago, this volunteer-driven organisation has supplied free uniforms to over 2,000 families.
Operating under the motto "If we have it, you can have it," the charity distributes thousands of uniform items anonymously to parents, who can collect them from 16 local libraries.
The cost to collect, launder, and distribute each package is approximately £10. This week, the charity will benefit from funding provided by Comic Relief.
The organisation estimates it has distributed more than 15,000 uniform items across Rochdale, an area where research by the Cooperative Councils' Innovation Network indicates that 40% of children live in poverty.
Growth and Operations Amid Rising Demand
Julie Waller, the chief executive and founder of Uniform for All, discussed her role in establishing the organisation during an interview with BBC Radio Manchester ahead of Comic Relief's 2026 event in Salford scheduled for Friday evening.
Julie explained that the charity began during the pandemic alongside her daughter, initially partnering with a local co-operative that accepted school uniform donations.
Since then, the demand for the charity's services has increased significantly, with requests doubling between December 2025 and January 2026.
"We distribute it to anybody free of charge that wants school uniform via our online store," Julie said. "And it is completely anonymous."
"This year we definitely know the figures will be higher for requests."
"The maximum number of orders we can get out in a day is 55 bags of uniforms and some of these bags have got maybe 10 to 15 items in."
Impact on Families and Volunteers
Wendy Howard, 51, a beneficiary of the Uniform for All scheme, shared how the charity has positively affected her life as a single mother of two children.
"It's brilliant and has helped me a lot financially as a single parent bringing up two kids on my own.
It cost us a fortune, two or three jumpers at a time or blazers - when my kids are growing that fast every week."
She added that the charity has also been invaluable in providing items such as pants, trainers, and shoes, as well as specific fleeces required for her special needs daughter.
"It's saving me money that I can then spend on food and buy other stuff for my children," she said. "I'd be stuck without them."
Lorraine Thompson, 72, a volunteer with the charity, expressed her enjoyment and satisfaction from working with the project.
"I love it," she said. "We all get on so well, the atmosphere is lovely and we have a good laugh."
"We found it heartwarming to know we are making a difference and helping others."
"One lady said to me she thanks God for Julie - who runs the organisation - because she has a big family and she really struggles.
And it was just so nice that she said that."
Support from Comic Relief
Julie Waller emphasized the significance of the support from Comic Relief.
"Any help is tremendous.
And all the people that support Comic Relief is just amazing for us.
They have given us funding that means we are able to buy items we need like shoes, socks, tights and any blazers that we don't have - and these things are in demand all the time, so that money is really, really appreciated."
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