A 2020 survey by The Children's Society found that parents with children in state schools were spending an average of £337 per year on uniforms for each secondary school child, along with an average of £315 per year for each primary school child.
Quickly realising that a lot of families could not afford the excessive pricing, The Very Group have put together a new initiative through Radio City Cash for Kids, to distribute over £8,000 worth of free school uniforms across communities in the North West to those who need it the most.
On August 17th, 2021, a one-day-only pop up will appear at the Observation Point on London's South Bank between 11,30am and 4.30pm BST, giving back to the community with hundreds of uniforms, coats and backpacks given out to families who attend.
Single parent and former One Direction stylist Lou Teasdale will be on-hand to host, with the winner of 2019's Great British Sewing Bee, Juliet Uzor, and Love Island fan-favourite Ovie Soko also on-hand, to help families refresh and upcycle preloved uniform, as well as encouraging those who like a challenge to take part in a basketball competition.
Teasdale comments: “Children, especially teenagers, lean on clothing as an expression of who they are – whether that’s to fit in or to stand out – and to boost their self-confidence around their peers. I’m so glad to be part of a campaign that aims to help families give their kids school clothes they can be proud of, whether that’s new products or helping them smarten up pre-loved items. Kids and families have had a difficult two years and it’s both exciting and probably daunting too as they get ready for their first “normal” year back, so anything we can do to boost their confidence is hugely valuable.”
Soko adds: “When I think back to my own school years, yes it was fun and I had some great friends, but it was also quite a turbulent time, in terms of growing up, the pressure to do well and social stresses. Sport was always a great outlet for me, it gave me somewhere to focus my energy and it was something I really excelled in, which was a great confidence boost. I’m looking forward to putting these kids through their paces and hopefully giving away some great prizes too – we’re going to have loads of fun.”
Heart DJ Dev Griffin and Capital XTRA's Yinka Bokinni will also be on-hand to entertain visitors, who will also be treated to some complimentary sweet snacks! Books are also being given out for the little ones, as part of Very's partnership with Coram Beanstalk.
Carly O’Brien, chief marketing officer at Very, said: “As a brand, we’re focussing on empowering kids to feel great about themselves, and ready and excited to return to the classroom. We know how challenging the costs around uniforms and school supplies can be, so we wanted to help alleviate the pressure on families to make sure that kids feel energised for the school year ahead. As an organisation, we’re committed to helping to reduce uniform poverty, and we will continue to look at ways to support families in the coming years to ensure no children are held back by uniform worries.”
For the full details of the day, check below:
- Date: Tuesday 17th August
- Time: 11:30am-4:30pm; celebrity hosts will be on-site from 12pm-2pm
- Location: Observation Point, 56 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PP
- Entry: Free entry, no need to book
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