Hackney politicians urge parents to apply for school uniform grant as households come under ‘severe strain’

School uniforms ‘come at a cost’. Photograph: Hackney Council

Parents of Year 7 pupils who are eligible for a school uniform grant have been urged to apply before term starts next month.

Around 700 families of children making the transition from primary to secondary school are eligible for the £100 discount, and those who qualify were advised to apply for it once a school place was offered to their child in March.

Those who have not yet applied should act now, with education chief Cllr Anntoinette Bramble urging parents to take advantage of the scheme.

She said: “The cost-of-living crisis is set to put Hackney residents under even more severe strain this autumn, and we know school uniforms come at a cost – especially for those moving into secondary school.

“That’s why we’ve made these grants available to those on low incomes, part of our unprecedented cost-of-living support package which is targeted at those who need it most.

“It’s vital that those who are eligible make the most of the help available.”

Parents of children going into Year 7 may be eligible for the discount if their child lives in Hackney in a household receiving one of the following:

Income support
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Child tax credit, getting no more than £16,190 a year
Working tax credit, getting no more than £16,190 a year
Guarantee element of pension credit, or Income-related employment and support allowance
Universal Credit with a net earnings threshold of £15,400 a year

The discount comes as part of a package of unprecedented financial aid being offered by the council in an effort to mitigate rising costs for the most vulnerable in the borough.

New provisions include the Household Support Fund, which has seen the council distribute £2.8m of government funds since April to those struggling the most to help with the cost of food, clothing, housing, and energy and water bills; a council tax relief scheme which has come to nearly £28m; and other support paying for food, utilities, travel and phone and internet access, for which the council has made £150k available.

Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville said: “I’m acutely aware of the severe strain many households in Hackney are under as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Everyday essentials, such as food and household bills, are rising faster than average incomes, driven by inflation and forces outside the council’s control.”

He added: “We have made available a package of support – designed to help those most in need and who are facing the starkest of choices – that is more generous and targeted than ever before.

“I urge anyone experiencing difficulties to apply for help out as soon as possible.”

Find out more about the school uniform discount and apply here.