A charity which provides school uniforms wants people to sponsor a child for going back to school in August.
The School Bank West Lothian provides school uniform and other clothing and equipment.
Kirstin Shemilt from Deans, Livingston started the project in 2015. She said: “I had heard about the idea, modelled on foodbanks, and wanted to do something in the local area.
“A few of us got it off the ground with a Facebook page and a crowdfunder. It has been a huge undertaking but with the help of the public it has been a roaring success. People have been very generous.
Their flagship Sponsor a Child initiative runs from May to August every year. Sponsors register an interest and the school bank assign them a child and a list of items they require. The sponsor spends as much or as little as they please.
In the first year they ran the scheme in 2016 they had 90 sponsors and last year that number doubled to 180. This year they have already had 300.
They accept referrals from headteachers, social workers, housing officers, Women’s Aid, health visitors and agencies including West Lothian Council, Citizens Advice Bureau, Home-start and the Advice Shop in Bathgate.
Kirstin continued: “Up until this year we always had more referrals than sponsors but we are absolutely delighted to say that for the first time we now have enough sponsors to handle the referrals we have so far received this summer.
“Just helping other local families in need seems to be what inspires most people to get involved.
“Some families do get clothing grants from the government but what we have found is people are using these to buy essentials like food or power and they then cannot buy uniforms.
“Also 50 per cent of our referrals come from in-work families and this picture meets the national statistics so there is a real need for our service and it is growing every year.”
Anyone interested can contact the School Bank on Facebook or email collette@schoolbank-westlothian.org.
