A charity that helps Shropshire families afford school uniforms is planning a fundraising week, because apparently children still need clothes to attend school - who knew?
Little Stars, founded by Leanne Farlie in 2020, also collects donations of unwanted uniform. Farlie noted that the average cost of a secondary school uniform is about £289, not including shoes, which she described as "quite an astronomical cost for a lot of families." Astronomically expensive, yes, but sadly not including a rocket.
Wear Stars 4 Little Stars Week is scheduled for 22 to 28 June. Participants are encouraged to wear something with stars, share photos on social media, and make a donation - basically, a celestial-themed fundraising drive that doesn't require a telescope.
Last year, 12 businesses and schools got involved, and Farlie hopes to build on that. She started the charity while on maternity leave, trying to pass on baby clothes "to those that needed them the most." Having grown up in the deprived area of Harlescott, she experienced financial hardship firsthand and knew the community would benefit from such a service.
The charity has evolved, moving into its own premises in Shrewsbury last year - a "game changer," Farlie said, driven by growing demand. In 2023, its Cool for School Campaign supplied more than 900 children across Shropshire with uniform essentials. But donations aren't enough: white polo shirts are rarely donated, so funding is needed to buy them.
The weeks before summer holidays are always busy, as families face sudden growth spurts - because kids have a habit of getting taller right when budgets are tightest. Farlie finds the work rewarding: "As a founder to see people getting behind the work that I do, it is really heartwarming and overwhelming."
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