School uniform swap saves cash

Nearly 170 parents have signed up for the Facebook facility, said founder Penny Bould, who works as a life coach and counsellor in Warwick .

The former Labour county councillor said: “I became more aware of the problems when I was talking to a mother who needed help with the cost of getting school uniforms.

“So I set up a Facebook Page called Rehome Uniform for Schools, or RUS for short.

“It is completely free to join and to use where people want to give uniform items like blazers, skirts, sweatshirts and the rest away, or people can ask one another for a reasonable payment.

“People make their own arrangements for picking up, posting or swapping uniforms.

“I call on all local head teachers to please tell parents about the site.”

A former BBC reporter, Ms Bould said: “In these difficult economic times, when most of us are finding things financially tight, many families are counting every penny.

“Plus there is concern about too many clothes going to landfill costing council tax payers money and being bad for the environment.”

The psychotherapist added: “I have in mind organising a big ‘swapsee’ event for people to give away unwanted uniforms or maybe they will ask parents receiving the uniform items for a small charge or a £1 donation for the venue hire.”

The RUS Facebook page link is here