Organisers recorded 15,005 uniform items given away, a mix of used and donated pieces that included 1,869 polo shirts, 2,807 shirts, 2,388 jumpers, 183 blazers, 119 ties and 453 logoed PE kit items. The charity also supplied 1,531 pairs of shoes, 2,787 pairs of boys’ trousers, 616 pinafores, 1,092 skirts, 900 pairs of girls’ trousers and 260 sixth-form outfits. Alongside those donations, Clothing Coventry provided 4,659 brand-new items to 2,142 children.
The charity’s chief executive, Katie Wilson, highlighted the wider cost pressure on families. The average cost of a school uniform is estimated at £249.58 per child, she said, and that "remains a real challenge" for many households. Wilson added that "no family who attended our events left empty-handed," while acknowledging that blazers and logoed PE kits were often in short supply.
When the charity could not source a blazer, organisers issued £30 uniform vouchers to 60 families so pupils could meet school requirements. The programme is in its fourth year and ran with support from Coventry Building Society.
One parent who used the service described the relief it brought to a large household that had been struggling to afford uniform for multiple children, saying the support had taken away a lot of financial stress and ensured kids could return to school equipped for term.
Clothing Coventry said it will reopen for school uniform requests on 14 September and that families can access uniform support throughout the year, not only during the summer. The charity’s figures underline persistent demand for specific items and the continuing role of donated and reused clothing in easing cost-of-living pressure for local families.
