School uniform

The School Uniform Exchange

Join other like-minded schools who are making efforts to tackle the cost of new school uniform and reduce the impact clothing waste has on the planet!

We encourage your school to take part in the School Uniform Exchange – it’s easy to start right away! 

Why are we running the Exchange Network? 

  • 1.4 million wearable school uniforms are thrown away each year
  • 62% of people think that school uniform swapping is a great idea and is good for the planet
  • Swapping uniform rather than buying new can save families up to £348.55 a year
  • Extending the lifespan of clothes by just three months could result in a 5-10% reduction in carbon, water, and waste footprints
  • We are committed, as part of our Waste Prevention Plan, to promote sharing opportunities to help avoid unnecessary purchasing of items.

But, what’s in it for your school you say? 

All families experience the financial burden of having to keep replacing their growing kid’s school uniform. Providing the opportunity to buy reduced-priced second-hand uniform will come as a huge relief to all. 

Also, by preventing textiles from going to waste and reusing the uniforms, you’re helping to conserve the planet’s materials and protect it from harm.  

How do you get involved? 

Get in touch with us on wastepreventionteam@nlwa.gov.uk if you’d like to run the School Uniform Exchange in your school. We will send you: 

  • Leaflets & posters to advertise the location and time of your Exchange shop
  • Labels for the containers you will use to collect the school uniform donations

Why wait? Follow these 7 easy steps to get started:

Number 1

Gather a team of parents, carers, and school staff to organise and run the shop

There are plenty of jobs to go round when running a school uniform exchange, from sorting the donations to working at the shop (and packing away). Make a list of tasks and assign roles as needed.

Number 2

Locate storage area for stock and space to run the shop

Preparing for lots of donations is a great way to get ahead. Speak with the senior management team and site staff at your school to identify a space to store your stock. Choose an easily accessible location for your shop near to where children are picked up at the end of the day. This will help it to be seen and may encourage families to shop with you. 

Number 3

Source equipment

Rails, hangers, storage etc can help with the organisation of running the shop whilst also ensuring the school uniform remains in good condition ready to reuse. Create a wish list of equipment you need and reach out to the school community to source this. Using swapping groups on Facebook or sites like Freegle and Freecycle may also help in sourcing much needed items.  

Number 4

Start collecting uniforms

Using a labelled container (we recommend a laundry basket!), label it clearly with the sticker we will provide to ensure only donated uniforms are placed in there. This will make dropping off donations simple for families and your team. Make sure to promote the donation’s container to families, its location, and the list of items you are happy to accept. 

Number 5

Running the shop

Decide a suitable date and time to run your exchange shop. You can either run a regular monthly event on a set day of the week, or you can run a one-off event.  

Number 6

Record your numbers and share with us!

Keep track of the number of items being reused with our record sheet. After each shop, upload your data and we will provide you with some useful stats, including the weight of textiles saved from waste and the amount of carbon emissions prevented. 

Number 7

Join the network of schools across the boroughs

Find out what other schools are doing, share success stories and more with The School Uniform Exchange.  

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Join other like-minded schools who are making efforts to tackle the cost of new school uniform and reduce the impact clothing waste has on the planet!

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