One of those, the Luton-based EasyJet, has joined hands with Level Trust (LT), another local charity. Combined, they hope to address the economic burdens that parents face in buying school uniforms. This pilot program comes on the heels of an EasyJet-commissioned survey. It concluded that 58% of British households are facing financial hardship in purchasing school uniforms. The survey of 2,000 parents was conducted by OnePoll. It showed that parents are spending an average of £255 per child on the basics.
Responsible for quality assurance on uniforms for over 75 schools all over Luton, Level Trust (LT) have played an active role in their communities. Jennie White, the charity’s chief executive officer, said there had been a huge increase in demand for school uniforms. This illustrates the overwhelming pressures that families are under today. The collaboration has been established to help vulnerable families as well as the environment by donating unused uniforms from EasyJet to help tackle textile waste.
Michael Brown, EasyJet’s director of cabin services, expressed the airline’s commitment to this initiative. She said that the initial phase of this collaboration is a pilot effort to meet the basic needs of parents experiencing economic distress. Brown emphasized the dual benefit of the program: “Our aim for this first phase is both to support parents who are facing financial hardships as well as reduce our textile waste.”
And the results of our survey tell a painful story of families unable to afford what their kids need to be ready for school. It has damaging effects on children’s self-esteem and school preparedness. EasyJet is currently working with Level Trust (LT) to help reduce financial pressures for families in need. Simultaneously, they are working to further sustainable practices.
Given the growing need for school uniforms, White noted how crucial EasyJet’s support is. She has noticed a real increase lately with the demand of requested uniforms. This recent trend underscores the pressure many families are struggling with right now. EasyJet’s donation of surplus uniforms is one small piece that helps meet these needs. This program reduces the financial stress on families and helps kids get the gear they need to feel confident and ready to learn in school.
As the back-to-school season continues, this public-private partnership continues to stand up for local families. Collectively, we are creating an even deeper well of community resilience to draw from. EasyJet and Level Trust (LT) are committed to ensuring all children have the right kit. They know that every child should feel safe, confident, and supported in their learning environment.
