Shop selling second-hand school uniforms for £5
An east London charity shop where parents can pick up school uniforms for £5 is helping with the rising cost of living, users have said
An east London charity shop where parents can pick up school uniforms for £5 is helping with the rising cost of living, users have said. This is the eighth year that S.M.I.L.E. London & Essex, which "provides support to families facing poverty, homelessness, and hardship", runs the swap shop for uniforms from its premises in Romford. Parent Sandra Koli, on a visit to the shop, told BBC London: "It helps me not to be anxious, because the price is really affordable so I don't have to worry too much.
"This is the right time for it, because by the end of August it will be really crowded and much more expensive - so I can relax and enjoy my summer until the school starts." Maria Quaife, from S.M.I.L.E. London and Essex, told BBC London: "We've got 1,000 items of school uniform - branded and generic uniform - (from) across Havering, Barking and Dagenham.
"Families can come in, donate items that don't fit their kids any more and grab as much new uniform as their family needs for only £5. "We tend to get about 500 children coming through our doors each year and it's been getting more and more every year unfortunately because of the cost of living. "But a new school uniform can cost around £300-400 per child.
We're saving families locally thousands of pounds." The shop also stocks a selection of shoes and football boots at a reduced price.
The BriefWire