Castle Quarter school uniform pop-up – Norwich

Parents and carers from in and around Norwich are being asked to donate school blazers that are no longer needed, to support other families. As the start of the summer term approaches Castle Quarter is preparing for its next ‘given in kindness’ school uniform pop-up on Tuesday 26 May.

Blazers branded with a school logo make up a significant cost of buying new school uniform, with prices ranging from £30 to £60. And with it now estimated that the total cost of buying a new school uniform for primary school children costs around £350, while for secondary school pupils the figure rises to £442, (Source) pre-loved items are more sought after.

Castle Quarter’s pre-loved uniform giveaway initiative aims to ease some of this financial pressure by redistributing pre-loved, but good quality, uniform pieces.  And, after running the scheme for three years, it has become clear that blazers are one of the items most needed.

Castle Quarter’s school uniform pop-up opens for one day during every school holiday and will return on Tuesday 26^th May.

The centre has also received a large donation of pre-loved uniform from Norwich charity – Growkids – which will be moving premises from Trowse Sports Hall into a new space, John Moreton Hall, on Colman Road, in the middle of June.

Since starting out in 2023, Castle Quarter’s pre-loved uniform pop-up has:

• Given out 2,750 pieces of school uniform clothing
• Supported more than 250 families from in and around Norwich
• Saved parents and carers an estimated £16,500
• Diverted nearly 1,000kg of clothing from landfill.

The Castle Quarter school uniform ‘given in kindness’ uniform initiative is a now a regular occurrence throughout the year, opening for one day, every school holiday. It means parents and pupils can continue to replenish and replace their uniform, year-round.

To collect uniform

The next pop-up event will take place on Tuesday 26^th May at the Centre Management Office (Level 3) between 9am and 4pm. All are welcome to just turn up, with no pre-booking required. One set of uniform per child.

To donate

Anyone wanting to donate school uniform before or after the May pop-up can drop items off to the Centre Management Office, on Level 3, between 9am and 4pm, any day. Items must be washed and in good, wearable condition, with all name tags removed where possible.