More than 20,000 kids in Lanarkshire are eligible for help in buying their school clothes
South Lanarkshire is the third-highest area in the whole of Scotland for youngsters who qualify for financial aid with school uniforms, with North Lanarkshire narrowly behind in fourth place.
The Scottish Government has now increased the School Clothing Grant in a bid to help families who are struggling.
The support – which should benefit at least 145,000 school children across Scotland – is for people in receipt of a number of benefits, including Universal Credit and Working/Child Tac Credits, and helps families pay for school clothes and shoes.
It also provides a snapshot of areas across the country struggling to make ends meet.
South Lanarkshire has 10, 600 kids eligible in total, with £678,000 now being invested in support, while North Lanarkshire has 10,234 children who qualify for support.
A total of £929,000 has been allocated to help there.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said the funding will help to relieve pressure for parents.
She said: "No parent should feel a burden from buying their children’s school uniforms and so the increase to the school clothing grant will relieve that pressure for many families across Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
"Being in a uniform not only breaks stigma in school but gets young people in the right mindset for learning.
"I am delighted this manifesto commitment has been introduced already and I’d encourage eligible families to apply for the start of the new school year. "
Glasgow has the most children eligible, with Fife in second place.
The grants provide families with £120 per child in primary school and £150 per child in secondary school, up from £100 previously.
Applications are still open for eligible parents to apply for the start of the new school year.
Further details, including eligibility rules, can be found by visiting here.
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