When Joanne McCarthy set up a school uniforms recycling project five years ago, she had just two bags of donations, but half a decade on, Uni-Recycle in Sheffield has thousands of items which it sells at a fraction of the price they would cost new – or it gives them away to families most in need.
McCarthy said recently demand for what the project offered had “gone through the roof” and 2026 had been the “busiest year”.
It comes after a new law came into force this month limiting school uniforms to just three branded items – something the government said would save some families “up to £50 per child”.
Uni-Recycle is a not-for-profit community interest company that runs pop-up shops at Heeley Parish Church and is supported by charities and supermarkets.
“We have been really, really surprised,” said McCarthy.
“We actually put on an extra sale in August. We wouldn’t normally do that, hoping that we would get to everybody, but even with the extra sale the demand has just increased.”
For those most in need, the project provides uniforms for free, with nearly 40 families being referred this year – about double the number supported by Uni-Recycle last year.
“Our project is about charging as little as possible so people that are struggling can stand side by side with people that are recycling, so there’s no embarrassment, there’s no blushes,” McCarthy explained.
“The first sale for families in need raised about £20, at the last sale we nearly hit £400.”
On the recent change in the law on branded items, McCarthy said uniforms remained important because she felt “all children should look the same” while at school.
However, she said: “I don’t think it’s necessary to have as many branded items as they do, and most of the primary schools in this area have branded – but it’s optional.”
