A Wirral charity that redistributes free second-hand school uniforms says it has never seen demand this high, with families across all income levels struggling to keep up with rising clothing costs. Wirral Free Uniforms for Schools (FUSS), which has operated for 14 years and runs 12 hubs across the borough, says prices continue to climb despite government guidance intended to curb them. One mother of four said the free uniforms allow her to spend more on summer activities with her children instead.
Project co-ordinator Petra Davies said families in wealthier parts of Wirral are increasingly turning to the charity because some higher-fee schools charge steep prices for compulsory uniform items.
"The cost of uniform, despite the government guidelines, is still rising in price and people just cannot afford it."
Why are costs still rising despite government rules?
According to Davies, schools have found ways to keep certain items effectively branded even after being told to cut down on logoed clothing. She pointed to one girls' school that removed a logo requirement from its navy jumper but kept a distinctive white stripe, meaning parents still cannot buy a generic replacement.
"There's a girl school who have a navy jumper with a white stripe, and the school is saying you don't need the logo on that jumper any longer, but in actual fact it's branded because of the white stripe."
"They are abiding by knocking down the number of logo'd items but there are lots of ways that the schools can get around it."
Davies also cited a school in Birkenhead, regarded locally as a "posh" institution, that charges £52 for a rugby top on its own. She said pupils at fee-paying or higher-cost schools sometimes face uniform bills well above those at other schools, making the charity's donated stock especially valuable to those families.
"We have people who, in the posh schools, their uniform is actually more expensive than anyone else's so it really helps them if we can give stuff away."
What is changing for parents from September 2026?
From 1 September 2026, schools in England will be barred from requiring parents to buy more than three branded uniform items, under updated government rules. Ministers say the change, which is backed by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, is designed to reduce costs for families ahead of the new school year, according to a government announcement. Existing guidance already instructs schools to limit compulsory branded uniform and PE kit items to three or fewer, a threshold that Davies says some schools have sidestepped through design choices such as distinctive stripes or patterns.
Wirral FUSS's own campaigning contributed to earlier changes restricting the number of branded items schools can demand, in theory making it easier for parents to buy cheaper, unbranded clothing. The charity's website lists seven hubs that are regularly open to the public, including sites in Birkenhead, Bromborough, Hoylake, Moreton, Lower Bebington, Wallasey St Hilary's and Neston, and confirms it is a registered charity under reference number 1199396.
How much are families spending this summer?
Research from the Children's Society found that 68% of parents across north-west England said this year's school holidays cost more than last year's. The charity continues to run a national campaign aimed at cutting the cost of school uniforms.
A mother of four who visited the charity's Birkenhead hub said the free uniforms free up money that would otherwise go toward compulsory school clothing.
"It's really helpful, it means that I can give the children days out and things like that rather than spend it on the uniform."
"It'd take a huge cut out of my budget, especially during summer holidays because they never stop eating."
She estimated that a pair of shoes for a primary school-aged child costs around £50, a pack of shirts about £20, and recalled paying £60 for a new blazer the previous year.
"When you add it all up it's a lot of money and a lot of stress from the beginning of the summer holidays right to the end."
Who else relies on the uniform bank?
Viktoria, who moved to Wirral from Kyiv, Ukraine, two months ago, said the service has eased the transition for her family as they settle into life in England.
"We have two children and we only moved here two months ago, and now in my family only my husband works."
Similar uniform-support schemes have emerged elsewhere in the country this summer. In Peterborough, more than 600 people queued at a city swap shop for free second-hand uniforms, with organisers considering making the event a regular fixture. In Kent, a community uniform bank has been supporting working families through the summer months, while in Devon two mothers set up a free uniform swap in Tavistock ahead of the new branded-item limits.
What happens next?
Schools across England are expected to comply with the new three-item cap on branded uniform from 1 September 2026, according to government guidance. A separate analysis has examined how much parents could save under the new cap, with the government citing potential savings of up to £50 per child, though schools, parents and suppliers have offered mixed reactions to how the policy will work in practice.
Key Facts
- Wirral FUSS has run for 14 years and operates 12 hubs across Wirral, with 7 regularly open to the public.
- 68% of parents in north-west England said this year's school holidays cost more than last year's, according to the Children's Society.
- A Birkenhead school charges £52 for a rugby top alone, according to project co-ordinator Petra Davies.
- From 1 September 2026, English schools must limit compulsory branded uniform items to three, under rules backed by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
- The government says the cap could save parents up to £50 per child.
