DF4TA School Uniform Hub

In Partnership with Derbion

School Uniform Hub 2026 – What a Week!

Our pop-up at Derbion may have closed, but we're still here to help.

Our 2026 School Uniform Hub at Derbion has now come to an end, and what an incredible week it has been!

For the fourth consecutive year, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA), working in partnership with Derbion, has been helping local families prepare for the new school year by providing access to affordable school uniform.

This year, we have been delighted to support nearly 300 households, helping nearly 500 children get ready for September.

Across the week, around 1,500 items of school uniform and shoes were distributed. But behind every number is a family, a child and a parent who may have been worried about how they were going to afford everything their child needed for the new school year.

The support doesn't stop here

Although our one-week pop-up at Derbion has now closed, our School Uniform service remains open.

If you still need school uniform for your child, you can continue to submit a request for support through our website.

Requests will continue to be reviewed by the DF4TA team and, where appropriate, families will be directed to The Thoughtful Shop at Derby Market Hall, where school uniform remains available.

The same application process and pricing structure will continue to apply.

The project is designed to help ease the financial pressures that many families face during the summer holidays and ensure children are ready to return to school in September. Families wishing to access support must submit a Request for Support application before visiting the hub. This allows our team to assess requests, prepare stock where possible, and provide a smoother experience for families attending the event.

Why This Support Matters

The cost of school uniform continues to place significant pressure on many families. With the loss of Free School Meal holiday vouchers during school holidays, many households face additional financial challenges over the summer period.

Parents now spend on average:

• £319 per year on primary school uniform per child
• £347 per year on secondary school uniform per child

The School Uniform Hub helps reduce these costs while ensuring children can start the new school year with the essential clothing they need.

Who Can We Help?

Support is available to families experiencing financial hardship or facing circumstances that make it difficult to provide school uniform for their children.

Eligibility is assessed on an individual basis and may include:

• Families on a low income struggling to meet essential household costs
• People experiencing financial hardship and engaging with support services
• Those awaiting their first Universal Credit payment
• Households affected by a change in benefits or income
• Individuals affected by physical or mental health issues
• People experiencing homelessness or being rehoused
• Victims of crime facing short-term financial difficulties
• People with no access to public funds who are seeking support to address underlying issue
• Individuals facing a significant life event affecting their financial circumstances
• Children starting a new school who do not have suitable uniform
• Families new to Derby or the local area who are unable to obtain school uniform

Every application is considered individually to ensure support reaches those who need it most.

Need School Uniform?

Professional Referrals

Schools, agencies and partner organisations can now submit referrals through our online referral portal.

Using the referral system helps ensure:

• The correct level of support is provided
• Information is handled safely and securely
• Families receive consistent support across services
• Requests are processed as efficiently as possible

If your organisation does not currently have access to the online referral system, please contact us via email on info@df4ta.com  and we can provide the relevant information. 

Request Support (Self-Referral)

If you are struggling financially and feel the School Uniform Hub may be the right support for your family, you can complete a Request Support application when applications open.

Each request is reviewed by Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance. Where appropriate, support will be offered through the School Uniform Hub. In some circumstances, families may be signposted to other services that are better suited to their needs

Following your application, a member of our team will review the information provided and contact you to discuss the support available.

What Happens Next?

Once you have submitted your Request for Support application, you will receive a confirmation message to let you know that we have received it.

Our team will then review your application. If we need any additional information, or if there are any issues with your request, we will contact you directly.

If your application is approved, you will receive a text message or email with your allocated date and time to attend The Thoughtful Shop. Allocating appointments helps us manage demand, reduce waiting times and ensure families receive the best possible support.

Please ensure that the contact details provided on your application are correct and that you check your text messages and emails regularly for updates from the team.

Apply for Uniform

Walk-In Support

Whilst walk-in visitors are welcome, we strongly encourage families to apply before attending.

Submitting an application in advance allows us to spread requests across the week, manage demand effectively, and reduce waiting times for families attending the hub.

If you arrive without an application:

• A volunteer can help you complete a request on site
• Eligibility will need to be assessed before support can be provided
• During busy periods, you may be asked to wait until a volunteer becomes available

Applying in advance will always be the quickest way to access support.

What Uniform is Available?

Core Items Available subject to donations and stock levels.

We aim to provide each child with:

• 1 jumper or sweatshirt
• 2 polo shirts or school shirts
• 1 pair of trousers or skirt

Additional items may be available

Depending on donated stock, we may also have:

• PE kits
• Coats
• School shoes

Availability will vary throughout the week and some items may be limited.

Please note that blazers, logo-specific items and school ties are often in short supply and cannot be guaranteed.

Thank You to Sal's Shoes

A special thank you to Sal's Shoes for once again supporting the DF4TA School Uniform Hub with a generous donation of school shoes.

Last year, nearly 300 children benefited from support through the School Uniform Hub, and donations such as these help us ensure that families can access not only school uniform but also the essential footwear children need to attend school comfortably and confidently.

We are proud to work alongside organisations that share our commitment to supporting local families, and we are incredibly grateful to Sal's Shoes for helping make this year's project possible.

One moment from last year's School Uniform Hub has stayed with us. After receiving support with school shoes and uniform for his children, a father took the hand of one of our volunteers and thanked her sincerely. He explained that it was the first time he had ever been able to provide his children with brand-new school shoes, something that had previously been beyond his family's budget.

It was a simple but powerful reminder that behind every donation is a family doing their very best, and a child who can walk into school feeling confident, included and ready to learn.

Contribution Towards Costs

To help keep the service sustainable and enable us to continue supporting families throughout the year, there is a small charge for school uniform items supplied through the hub. Funds received are reinvested directly into supporting local families and maintaining the service.

• Up to 3 items: £2 per child 
• 4-6 Items: £5 per child 
• 7-9 Items £8 per child
•  Shoes are not included in the item count and are subject to availability. 

Payments can be made cash or card, and we’ll remind parents when they apply so nobody is caught off guard.

Donate School Uniform

Donations of clean, good-quality school uniform help make this project possible each year.

Donation Dates

Donations can be made from Wednesday 1 July 2026 at the Derbion donation point, in the Mall near the Theatre. 

If you are organising a large workplace, school or community collection, please contact us in advance so that arrangements can be made.

Telephone: 01332 227728
Email: info@df4ta.com

Every donation helps local children start the new school year with confidence, dignity and the clothing they need to succeed.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to support the DF4TA School Uniform Hub and the families we serve across Derby.

The School Uniform Hub is about more than providing uniform; it's about ensuring every child can start the school year feeling confident and ready to learn.

Every year I am inspired by the generosity of our volunteers, donors, partners and supporters who make this project possible. Together, we help ease the pressure on local families and create a lasting impact across our community.

Last year we supported nearly 300 children, and that simply would not have been possible without our community coming together to help."

Debbie Jones
Senior Project Coordinator, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance