School uniform exchange can save money for parents in Hastings and Rother and is good for the environment

Mummery Co-op Funeralcare in Bexhill is celebrating the first anniversary of its Community School Uniform Scheme and said it has proved even more popular during the pandemic.

The scheme helps supply clothing to those who may be struggling to meet the costs of uniform pieces, local children’s services and foster families, as well as those trying to do their bit to help save the environment.

Managed by the home’s funeral arranger Nina Bush-Sims, the initiative has taken residence in a surplus and previously unused second office within the home.

Using social media to attract donations, the colleagues use the space to pass on school uniforms, PE kits, bags, and shoes to those in the community who might need them.

Having started working at Co-op Funeralcare in August 2019, Nina quickly introduced the uniform scheme in November the same year.

Nina said she was inspired when shopping for her own children’s school uniforms:

“Every year, I would go uniform shopping for my children, and the whole process was just so cumbersome and expensive. Then, once you’ve spent all that money on clothes, they end up getting ruined or swapped around with other children at the school.”

“It can also be a huge expense for many families. Not everyone has the cash to splash on costly uniforms, just for their children to grow out of every year.

“So, one day, I posted on Facebook asking if anyone had any second-hand uniforms they’d like to donate. Following a brilliant response, we realised that there was a huge demand for this kind of thing and the initiative soon grew bigger and bigger. Luckily, we have the surplus second office that I and the wonderful Bexhill colleagues operate out of – I don’t know what we’d do without the space or the team.

“These days, we primarily use our Facebook group (Pass it on, East Sussex School Uniform) as a way of communicating.

“People can let us know if they’d like to donate or collect something from the shop, and sometimes locals even interact with each other to organise their own mini swaps. The community spirit the uniform scheme has fostered is incredible.”

Donations and collections are done in line with current government guidelines and donations are quarantined for 72 hours. Anybody who would like to make use of the service can get in touch with the Mummery Funeralcare team on their dedicated Facebook group, or by calling the Funeral Home on 01424 730418.

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