A uniform recycling charity set up by two Sheffield mums has continued to grow as they work towards their goal of opening a city centre shop. 

Uni-Recycle was set up in Heeley during lockdown by friends Joanne (pictured right) and Louise, and offers recycled school uniforms at a low cost as well as free clothing to families in need.

The charity has a community shop at ECHO on City Road which is open for a few hours each Monday, and also has plans to move into MaTReC on Prince of Wales Road next month.

But Joanne said the ultimate goal would be to open a shop in the city centre, manned by volunteers every day of the week.

She said: “We’re hoping to just keep growing and growing.”

The charity holds around six sales a year at Heeley Parish Church where local people can donate and buy school uniforms for all ages at a cheap price. The most recent sale was on Saturday.

It then uses the profit it makes during the sales to offer a “discreet service” to families in need and provides them with uniforms free of charge.

According to DfE Data, the average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit currently stands at £442 for a child at secondary school, and £343 for a primary school pupil.

As a result, The Government have this morning announced plans to reduce the number of compulsory branded items in school uniforms.

Since it began in 2020, Uni-Recycle has quickly grown and now has partnerships with nine schools and three churches in the area, as well as companies and organisations such as Tesco and South Yorkshire Community Foundation.

The schools which work with the charity encourage families to drop uniforms off in bins which are in turn donated to Uni-Recycle. They can also refer families who are struggling.

Louise said: “We started with just two bags that someone donated and it’s become massive.”

The initiative began as a side project but last year was registered as a CIC as Joanne left her job as an estate agent and took on a job as church admin in order to focus on the project.

Joanne said: “We set it up as a recycling project, because everyone wants to recycle at the moment. We’ve probably had people today that are struggling unaware to us and have stood side by side with people who aren’t. There’s no shame or embarrassment about it.”

On top of typical uniforms, the charity helps to provide items such as coats and shoes to families in need, and has even helped out university students.

One parent who was helped out by the charity said: “My daughter is transgender and when she transitioned we were on universal credit. It helped us get a whole new girls uniform which would have been hard to afford otherwise. Uni-Recycle is absolutely brilliant.”

As the cost of living has risen, the charity has seen an increase in families who need help with uniforms, including among working parents.

Joanne said: “We are getting enough donations to be able to cope with the rise, but could do with more volunteers.”

There are a number of roles for volunteers, from helping out at the sales to washing and repairing donations.

One volunteer said: “I like volunteering here and getting to know local people. It gives you a bit of a lift when someone tells you how much you’ve helped them. 

“And a lot of people come because they like to recycle, so it’s not only those who are struggling.”

The initiative hopes that their work will not only benefit the environment and families in need, but also contribute towards improving children’s education and wellbeing.

Joanne said: “Some children don’t want to go to school because they feel they don’t fit in with their clothes. We hope to help improve children’s mental health by making sure they’re not going to school in rags or ripped clothes.

“There is less of a stigma around recycling and second-hand clothing than there used to be.”

The new government policy has brought further attention to the issue of school uniform pricing, and in recent years many similar initiatives have been set up across the country.