A desperate parent tipped over the edge by the cost of living crisis says she has contemplated suicide.
The heartbreaking story is just one of many heard by Alice Bennett, who is working to support families who have been hit hard by the rapid rise in living costs. Alice, 55, initially set up a free school uniform page on Facebook to ease the pressure on parents by providing pre-loved school uniforms.
But with the arrival of the school summer holidays the group is seeing a desperate need to further help as families struggle to make ends meet - leaving some feeling beyond desperate.
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The former-labour councillor said: "I have been contacted by a parent who is suicidal. I can tell, she is not sleeping and she is on the edge. She is so worried. She is crying every day. I am going to try and get her food and uniform.
"If people give me a list I can try and help them and contact councillors to help people. I have started stocking food as well, I have started giving out food and sanitary towels.
"I’ve been told uniforms cost £300-£500 per child, for me, I am so angry we are at this stage where schools can’t get their act together and do it themselves and they keep updating uniforms. Even If people don’t drive, I will drop it off."
Alice claims demand for her services are the highest since 2017. She started small in a farmers’ market and the boot of her car and now has a small garden house full as demand skyrockets. When the page started she had one uniform per south Liverpool school now she has multiple boxes for most schools across the entire city.
Alice told the ECHO : "Since 2017 it has gotten worst, austerity is worse, and the pandemic crippled people. The cost of uniforms is staggering. Mums come along and say 'if you have this item, I can pay off this' or 'if I get this, I can pay for that'. It is taking money out of people’s mouths."
Alice helps 10 families a week and sees up to 60 families turn up to uniform open days. When parents can't make it to the event she puts aside orders.
There are more than 1,200 people on Alice's pre-loved school uniform page, which can be found here.
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