Derbion partners with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance for return of school uniform initiative

Derbion, in partnership with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA), has announced the return of its school uniform appeal to support local families.

The initiative, which is organised by DF4TA and supported by Derbion, aims to support the city’s children by providing much-needed school uniform items, ahead of the new academic year.

Until Sunday 25 August, families can drop off unwanted school uniform in the large donation box situated outside Sainsbury’s on Level 1 at Derbion. Families are welcome to contribute both branded and unbranded items of any size, including blazers, jumpers, cardigans, shirts, polos, trousers, skirts, PE shorts, plain tracksuits and more. All donations, whether new or used, should be clean and in good condition.

In addition, from Monday 26 – Friday 30 August, between 10am and 4pm, families can visit the School Uniform Hub at Derbion to donate or pick up pre-loved school uniform, if in need of support. The pop-up hub, located on Level 1 outside Iceland, will include items for both primary and secondary children, offering a more sustainable and affordable alternative for school uniforms.

The School Uniform Hub will ensure that all donated items go to families who need them most, supporting the local community as they prepare for the new school year. As part of its ‘Derbion Cares’ initiative, this year marks Derbion’s second year supporting DF4TA with its school uniform appeal.

Beth McDonald, Managing Director at Derbion, commented: “We are incredibly proud to work closely with DF4TA to bring its school uniform appeal to life in-centre through the School Uniform Hub this summer. We’re dedicated to supporting our local community, and this impactful initiative will make a true difference and benefit many families across Derbyshire.”

Paul Brookhouse, Senior Manager at DF4TA, added: “Our school uniform appeal is a vital initiative to support families facing financial difficulties by ensuring every child has access to essential school uniforms and not having to face food insecurity due to purchasing school uniform.

“We’re extremely grateful to Derbion for its ongoing support, which has helped bring our initiative to life in the heart of the city. We hope as many people in the community will get involved by donating new or pre-loved uniforms, as every contribution will help us help local families in need.”

For more information and to discover the full list of items the donation station is requesting, please visit www.derbion.com/school-uniform-hub or call 01332 346266.