Your cart is empty!
This August we are proud to be partnering with The Children’s Society, with a donation of £1 for every pair of kids’ shoes you buy from us. Because no child should miss school for not having the right clothes.
Why We're Taking a Step to Help Fight School Uniform Poverty This August
Across the UK, thousands of children are missing out on school. And it’s not because they don’t want to learn. It’s because they can’t afford the right school uniform.
Kids are being sent home for wearing the wrong shoes, thrown out of classes for not having the right sports kit or bullied by their classmates because their family’s budget couldn’t stretch to afford the next size up.
What might seem to some like innocent school rules being imposed on naughty kids is actually often a result of clothing poverty, and can result in some really heartbreaking situations for these children.
From children going missing to escape overcrowded homes, to feeling the pressure to provide for their families, many are facing overwhelming challenges. In the worst cases, they’re targeted by gangs and criminals who exploit their vulnerability and put them in danger. Speaking with The Children’s Society, we were confronted with the harsh reality facing too many young people in the UK today.
It shouldn’t be this way.
At Reskinned, our mission has always been to extend the life of clothing, keeping it in use and out of landfill. But it’s about more than fashion. It’s about dignity, comfort, safety, and confidence. For school-age children, the right clothes can mean the difference between showing up and missing out.
That’s why this August we’ve partnered with The Children’s Society, a national charity that supports vulnerable young people across the UK. We’re working together to fight uniform poverty and help children get back into the classroom.
For every pair of kids’ shoes sold, we’ll be donating £1 to The Children’s Society, helping to fund vital services like therapy, outreach, and campaigning for systemic change. Because making school uniforms affordable means one less barrier to education, and one more child with a chance at a better future.
The Issue: School Uniform Poverty in the UK
The Reality of School Clothing Poverty Today
Families across the UK are facing impossible choices as the cost of their kids’ school uniforms are spiralling far beyond what a lot of us can afford. According to The Children’s Society’s The Wrong Blazer survey from 2020, parents with children in state-maintained schools spend an average of £315 per primary child and £337 per secondary child, over three times what most parents say is affordable (£85 and £105 respectively).
“My daughter would rather have skipped PE (which she enjoys) than possibly be overheard by one of her peers and risk the embarrassment of being poor.”
Nearly a quarter (23%) of parents say that cost has forced their child to wear ill-fitting, unclean or incorrect uniform, and nearly half a million children have been sent home from school as a result.
Uniform costs have become so high that families have even had to cut back on the essentials. One in eight reported that they sacrificed food or heating in order to cover uniform expenses. Among low-income households this is even more of a challenge.
“My oldest daughter, they sent her home and said she wasn’t allowed to come back until she had the correct shoes. So then I had to write a letter to say that we’ll be able to get some in a week or so, I didn’t have any money.”
The Impact on Attendance, Self‑Esteem & Mental Health
School uniform poverty isn’t just about money; it’s about belonging. We’ve all been kids and teenagers, and that stage of life is tough enough without the added bullying, classroom exclusion, or the shame and low self-esteem that can come from wearing the wrong uniform. These inequalities create real barriers to education, well-being, and opportunity.
How Our Partnership Helps Fight School Uniform Poverty
What Your Support Makes Possible
This August, we’re donating £1 for every pair of kids’ shoes sold on Reskinned to The Children’s Society, supporting their frontline work with children and young people across the UK.
Your support helps provide real, tangible aid to children in crisis. Here’s how:
Each £1 donated per pair of kids’ shoes helps support vital services:
- £10.16 enables a project worker to make crucial first contact with a young person via text or phone, laying the foundation of a trusting relationship.
- £45.65 funds a 30‑minute talking therapy session to help a child begin processing trauma.
- £106.61 covers an hour‑long intensive cognitive behavioural therapy session with a trained practitioner, helping a child build tools to manage their emotions and build resilience.
These contributions are important for helping these children feel confident, dignified and ready to learn.
“Young people come to us when they’re living in families who can’t afford the next meal, the next size up in school uniform or when there’s no one else to lean on. We work with them for as long as it takes, and we’re with them no matter what.”
— The Children’s Society
This service is a step tpwards a future where children don’t have to choose between school and survival, and where every child is given the chance to feel safe, supported, and seen.
How You Can Get Involved
Every child deserves to walk into school feeling confident, safe, and ready to learn. This August, your purchase can help make that possible.
Here’s how you can help:
Shop
Shop kids’ shoes on Reskinned and we’ll donate £1 for every pair to The Children’s Society.
Buy any pair of secondhand kids’ shoes through Reskinned this August, and we’ll automatically donate £1 to The Children’s Society.
You’re supporting people and the planet, extending the life of quality footwear while giving vulnerable children a better chance at school and beyond.
Support
Spread the word. Share this campaign to help us reach even more people that care.
Tell your friends, family and your followers online. Share our campaign on social media using your platform to spread the message far and wide. The more people who know, the more young people can be supported.
Donate
Want to make an even bigger impact? You can also donate directly to The Children’s Society to help fund their vital services.
‘The donation will go toward supporting the life-changing work of The Children’s Society, a national charity running local services that support young people through serious life challenges and campaign for a more hopeful future.’