The Wirral FUSS (Free Uniform for Secondary School) project was launched here at St. Luke’s in 2012 as part of the church’s mission to serve our local community and is a demonstration of faith in action and God’s love for all. In 2015 Wirral FUPS (Free Uniform for Primary School) started as a response to the needs of families contacting Wirral FUSS. We now work in partnership with over 80% of the 26 Secondary Schools and 73% of the 106 Primary Schools on the Wirral.
Our aim is to distribute good quality recycled uniform FREE, without judgement of family circumstances. In the last four years alone we have been able to help 7132 WIRRAL FAMILIES with 43,727 ITEMS of school uniform, meaning that 19.5 TONNES of clothes were saved from landfill.
Why School Uniform?
Kitting out a child for the start of Primary or Secondary School can be a costly business – at least £315 to £373 per child – not to mention PE Kit, bags, school shoes, coats, and replacing outgrown items, and children moving schools.
Surveys have shown that affording school uniform has a major impact on the monthly budget of families living on low incomes, and plays a significant part in family poverty and debt issues. The lack of proper School Uniform can also be a cause of social exclusion and stigma, and hunger: around 400,000 children in the UK are sent home from school every year for wearing ‘incorrect’ clothing. At the same time vast quantities of outgrown uniform and ‘lost property’ currently end up as landfill. Wirral FUSS / FUPS aims to address all these issues in our community.
Families needing uniform and other items can contact us by:
- email: wirralfuss@gmail.com
- and by phone: 07731 831936.
Our website: www.wirralfuss.co.uk contains all our contact information, the locations and opening times of our SEVEN local Hubs, an introductory video, details of all the schools served by each Hub, AND an online REQUEST FORM for reserving both Secondary & Primary School Uniform.
Wirral FUSS is ecumenical. As well as local Hubs at Methodist Churches in Hoylake, Lower Bebington and Moreton, we also partner with Parkgate & Neston URC, St Andrew’s New Brighton and Seacombe URC; we also have a shop unit in Birkenhead. All our Hubs depend upon the hard work of our volunteers, who pick up uniform donated in the schools, sort, mend, wash and label it, and gather together the items to fulfil each request.
We love to receive your donations of uniforms which your children have grown out of by placing it into the collection drum in our foyer or at your school. We would also love to hear from you if you would like to get involved with us and can offer 2-3 hours each week in this amazing and very worthwhile project.
Here at St Luke’s Wirral FUSS our staff are generally available to help families from 9.30am to 12.30pm every Wednesday. Requested items can also be picked up and clothing donated: on Tuesdays (1.15-3.15pm in term-time), Fridays (11.30am-1.30pm) and Sundays (11.45am-12.45pm).