WITH more students having gone back to their classrooms, the Flintshire school uniform hub has been a vital resource for parents.

The cost of new uniforms - including shoes and PE kits - can reach hundreds of pounds per child.

Earlier this year, the Leader reported that a group linked with Deeside Crisis Centre formed the dedicated hub to help those struggling with the cost of new school uniforms.

Since founding the project in early February, many have benefited from the ‘Flintshire School Uniform Exchange’, swapping schoolwear that wasn’t past its best condition and giving hundreds of items given a second life.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED: School uniform hub set up to support families from all corners of Flintshire

The team received donations for schools across the county so have formed localised bases for people to collect and make donations.

One hub in Mancot covers a variety of local schools and has been a well-used facility since more children were permitted to return to their classrooms by Welsh Government in March.

Community councillor Ant Turton, a dad-of-two, has been working to make the hub set up in the local library a success for the area.

He explained to the Leader how the community have been so generous with donations and grateful for what they have been able to receive.

He said: “I know first-hand how much school uniforms can cost as a parent, so this scheme is something I 100 per cent backed from the start. Its helped so many people with children in local primary and secondary schools.

“Since we started we have given out more than 400 items across Flintshire which really is a testament to the need for this service. We have had plenty of donations from across all our local hubs which will no doubt have made many parents lives that little bit easier as schools reopen.

He told the Leader how the hub has grown significantly since first starting, and they’re expecting a surge in demand after the Easter break.

Cllr Turton said: “We expected to be busy but after the Easter holidays we are expecting a bigger demand across our network seeing as all schools are back in full.

“So far we’ve all been really impressed to see the public continue to support us through donations.”

He went on to tell the Leader how the hubs are hoping to “extend the branches” they cover further – offering food packages and organising local litter picks.

He said that he hopes the dedicated uniform hubs can become more general purpose community hubs.

The Mancot team was recently visited by Abigail Mainon - the Conservative candidate for Alyn and Deeside in the upcoming Senedd elections – who praised volunteers giving up their time for the scheme.

She said: “It's lovely to see this facility being utilised at the heart of the community and to hear of the wonderful work of the volunteers over the past few months.

“From care parcels, to being involved in the school uniform exchange, to even organising litter picks to clean up the area - this group is a shining example of community spirit and pride.

“Hopefully this is something that can be encapsulated and carried on long after COVID is gone.”

For help in the Mancot area, people with making donations or requiring items, you can contact Cllr Turton on 07704 171625.

Alternatively, you can follow the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Flintshireuniforms where you can find your nearest hub.