Aberdeen: Pop-up shops to supply free school uniforms to 1,500 children

Pop-up shops are opening to supply free school uniforms to over 1,500 children across Scotland’s north east.

Aberdeen charity AberNecessities has teamed up with Asda to set up free school uniform pop-up shops at 12 primary schools across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

In response to a significant increase in applications from families in need of support for their children, the programme will offer primary school uniforms in various sizes to 12 north-east schools.

The trial will continue throughout the summer to ensure that no child goes without necessary school uniforms.

The free pop-up shops will allow parents facing financial hardship to access the clothing their children require.

Seaton School head teacher, Ashley Verling, said: “Being able to offer our families a uniform at Seaton has been a huge positive.

“It enables them to feel part of the school community, alleviates some financial stress from parents and carers and sets a good precedent moving forwards.”

AberNecessities founder and specialist teacher Danielle Flecher-Horn was inspired to start the charity having witnessed children arriving at school without proper shoes and unkempt clothing.

She said: “We have been told about children coming to school in their parents’ shoes as they didn’t have footwear of their own, which of course causes discomfort and embarrassment. We also hear of children wearing dirty uniforms with holes which, understandably, means they shy away from playing with their peers out of fear of being bullied.

“We all know the cost-of-living crisis is biting hard, making school uniforms an unattainable luxury for families experiencing extreme poverty within our community.

“On behalf of all the children and families, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Asda for their immensely generous donation, which will allow over 1,500 local children to arrive at school with a sense of pride, confidence and eagerness to engage with learning.”

General manager of Asda, Dyce, Aberdeen, Stuart Allan said: “We take great pride in our support of AberNecessities through our School Uniform donation. As a local charity, we are well aware of the invaluable work they do to benefit the community.

“Furthermore, our Community Champion, Fiona Cumming, maintains an active and ongoing connection with AberNecessities, regularly visiting to offer assistance. We have also established a dedicated donation Trolley within our store, enabling our customers to contribute and make a difference to local families who need it the most.”

Danielle added: “AberNecessities anticipates providing assistance to more than 10,000 children in Aberdeen city and shire this year whose families face financial difficulty, preventing them from providing essential items, including school uniforms.

“This is a disastrous situation for our community, as it prevents so many children from reaching their full potential.

“Through initiatives like the school uniform Pop-Up shops, our goal is to offer these children a strong foundation, empowering them to reach their full potential and ultimately lead fulfilling and successful lives.”