Scaffolding Project Re-Cycle School Uniform Scheme 2020

The Re-Cycle School Uniform scheme which has been a key part of the Scaffolding Project programme since 2017 aims to put unwanted uniform to good use based on a model of Donate and Collect free of charge. This year we partnered with our colleagues in EastSide Learning to offer a safe and accessible option to parents and had fantastic support from local schools.

Covid-19 presented some challenges but with the use of technology we were able to go ahead through a specially designed online shop. The community generously donated many items of pre-owned school uniforms to support the scheme. This year it was necessary for items to be quarantined and laundered before being ready for distribution. The creation of our online ‘Click and Collect’ shop allowed people to browse online and facilitated distribution through pre-assigned collection times.

The shop was a great success and this year we gave away 391 items of uniform. The scheme is a practical way of supporting families while recycling good quality uniform and the online shop will offer future opportunity for families to access uniform during the school year.

This important community initiative would not have been possible without the support of local people, participating schools, EastSide Learning and the project funders and sponsors- Urban Villages Initiative, East Belfast Community Development Agency and James Brown & Sons.