MORE than 100 students have been given free school uniform as part of a campaign to help ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Rudheath Senior Academy is part of the North West Academies Trust (NWAT) which has started up a fundraising drive to buy uniforms for children in need of financial support.
This comes after the school, on Middlewich Road in Northwich, launched a "pioneering" free breakfast, lunch and snack policy last December.
Headteacher James Kerfoot said: “At the centre of our culture are two key qualities – excellence and kindness.
“Giving our children free meals and ensuring they feel confident in the right uniform lets them know they are valued as individuals.
“We launched the uniform scheme in September and the feedback has given us the determination to keep looking for ways to help our families and really pull together as a community.”
Mr Kerfoot added: “Originally, we planned to run the free meals scheme for a term but we have made it sustainable with an ‘honesty box’ which mean those who can afford to pay for meals, do pay.
“The option is there to pay what you can afford. Some parents are choosing to pay extra, which says it all – We are a community.”
Cheshire-based NWAT is looking to raise enough funds to ensure every child in receipt of Pupil Premium receives one free uniform per year throughout the time they are at school.
The drive, coordinated through the trust’s Bursary Fund, is expected to support around 500 pupils in total.
NWAT CEO Steve Docking, who was recently made an OBE for services to education, said: “Our Bursary Fund is an important part of how we support our pupils, particularly at a time that life feels more expensive than ever,” he said.
“School uniform is an important part of school life, as it helps create equality. Feeling good about yourself starts with the clothes you wear.
“Our aim is to make sure that no child ever loses confidence, or feels different than their peers, due to issues they cannot control."
It is estimated that the cost of providing free school uniforms will come to around £50,000 each year.
For more information or to donate, visit the NWAT website.
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