Smarter Uniforms, a second-hand school uniform shop in Brighton & Hove, are supplying 11 libraries across Brighton & Hove with collection boxes from Friday 23 July, so that parents can donate preloved branded and non-branded school uniform to communities across the city.
This milestone is a major move for Smarter Uniforms on its mission to help families save money and reduce the environmental impact of buying new uniforms while fundraising for schools by reselling second-hand school uniforms.
After collecting and sorting unwanted school uniforms from primary and secondary schools, they create a high-quality bank of branded and unbranded items that are then available to purchase at a low cost.
A win-win for local families and the environment
The offer of good quality, clean uniforms that can be worn for longer is a win-win for local families and the environment.
Parents and carers that use Smarter Uniforms have been saving on average up to £200 per child per year, with items starting from just £0.50.
Smarter Uniforms operates online and is also currently taking donations of branded and non-branded school uniform in person at:
- Unit 1 at the Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU, from 12 to 5pm every Wednesday
- The central section of the Open Market, from 11am to 4pm, on Thursdays and Fridays throughout summer 2021
Director of Smarter Uniforms, Siobhan Wilson, said: “By families donating uniforms that they no longer need to us, other families can save much needed money in these particularly challenging times.
"It also allows us to provide free uniforms to families referred to us by community organisations such as foodbanks.”
A cheaper sustainable alternative
Councillor Sarah Nield, Brighton & Hove City Council’s lead member for schools, said: “The installation of Smarter Uniform collection boxes at libraries is an amazing step forward for both sustainability and supporting communities within Brighton & Hove.
“It’s important that as a society we move away from the current linear path to waste that we live by - where we buy, use and then discard resources that ultimately devastates our environment.
“What’s so amazing about installing Smarter Uniform collection boxes is not only that it will lead to a reduction in waste, but also providing many families with a cheaper sustainable alternative to buying new school uniforms.”
Where the collection boxes will be
Collection boxes are being rolled out in libraries across the city on Friday 23 July and will be available at:
- Hove Library
- Jubilee Library
- Woodingdean Library
- Rottingdean Library
- Patcham Library
- Hangleton Library
- Mile Oak Library
- Saltdean Library
- Whitehawk Library
- Westdene Library
- Portslade Library
Partnered schools are below, however Smarter Uniforms also accept all non-branded uniform and sell those to any family in the city or beyond:
- Balfour Primary School
- Cardinal Newman Catholic School
- Coombe Road Primary School
- Dorothy Stringer Secondary
- Longhill High School
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
- Patcham Junior School
- St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School Portslade
- St. Paul’s CoE School
- Varndean High School
- Windlesham School & Nursery
What you can do
You can learn more about Smarter Uniforms, where to donate and how to help the cause.
