THE School Uniform Bank and Exchange Bank will return to the Wee County, following on from last year’s success.

Local politicians, along with The Gate in Alloa and the local Tesco store, are working together to ensure Clacks families have uniforms in place for the coming term.

Parents will be able to donate their good quality used kit and pick up new and second-hand school uniforms, beginning next Monday.

The initiative is being supported by a number of SNP representatives including Keith Brown, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Alloa Councillor Ellon Forson.

Mr Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, said: “Last year, the Uniform Bank was a great success and I am delighted to work with The Gate and Tesco to run it again this year for the benefit of local families.

“It can be an expensive time of the year for many families and if the Uniform Bank can help ease this, while ensuring that good quality school clothing is re-used then this can only be a good thing.”

Evelyn Paterson, chair of The Gate, added: “Last year we had a tremendous response to our School Uniform Bank, both from the donations from our community and from the many families who benefited from those donations.

“It is important for all children to go to school with the confidence that they will ‘fit in’ and have the same as others in their class. 

“We believe this project can help build self-esteem in our children and through this will encourage them to develop positive relationships and hopefully achieve better results in school.”

Donations of any new and used items can be made at The Gate Centre from Monday, June 27 to Friday July 15, between 10am-4pm and also at Mr Brown and Ms Ahmed-Sheikh’s office at 39 Drysdale Street, Alloa.

Clothes and equipment will then be available as an ‘open to all uniform bank & exchange’ at The Gate Centre, from Monday, July 25 to Friday 29 between 2pm and 4pm.

Tesco in Alloa will be holding collection days in the store on July 21, 22 and 23.

Store manager Rob McLean said: “We are looking forward to this year’s event and working in partnership to help support our local community through our very generous customers.

“We are hoping that through raising the profile of the event we can encourage even more people to take part in this very worthwhile cause.”

While the focus of the Uniform Bank is help families source uniforms for the coming year, it also has the added benefit of helping to recycle.

MSP for Ochil and South Perthshire, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: “Last year, we were able to help hundreds of children start the new term with a new school uniform and it’s great to be involved in the project again which made such a huge difference to many families across Clackmannanshire.

“Not only does the Uniform Bank help people in need, it also encourages recycling.”

Councillor Forson added: “We all know how fast children grow and most need new uniforms, shoes, bags and gym kits after the summer holidays and the cost can soon mount up.

“The Uniform Bank gives families the opportunity to recycle their old school uniform whilst being able to pick up items they might need for the coming year.

“Flyers will be coming home in school bags over the next week or so, giving details of how and where to donate used items, so please do keep an eye out for further information.”