Rochdale Charity Gives 15,000 Free Uniforms to 2,000 Families

When Wendy Howard needed school uniforms for her two growing children, she didn't know where to turn as a single mom watching every penny. Then she discovered Uniform for All, a Rochdale charity that would change everything.

The volunteer-led organization has a simple motto: "If we have it, you can have it." Since launching during the pandemic in 2020, they've provided completely free recycled uniforms to more than 2,000 families across Greater Manchester.

The need is real. In Rochdale, 40% of children live in poverty, and school uniforms can cost a fortune when kids grow fast. Blazers, jumpers, special fleeces for students with specific needs add up quickly for parents already stretched thin.

Chief executive Julie Waller started the charity with her daughter, partnering with a local cooperative to collect donations. Parents order what they need through an online store, completely anonymously, and pick up packages from 16 libraries across the area.

The charity now covers 81 schools and keeps more than 500 different uniform items in stock. Volunteers wash, sort and pack up to 55 bags daily, each containing 10 to 15 items. Every package costs about £10 to process and deliver.

Demand has exploded recently. Requests doubled between December 2024 and January 2025 alone, and Julie expects numbers to climb even higher this year.

The Ripple Effect

For Wendy, the impact goes far beyond saving money on clothes. "It's saving me money that I can then spend on food and buy other stuff for my children," she said. "I'd be stuck without them."

The charity has become a lifeline for families juggling impossible choices between school requirements and basic needs. One grateful mother told volunteer Lorraine Thompson, 72, that she thanks God for the organization because it keeps her large family afloat.

Lorraine loves her work with the project. "We all get on so well, the atmosphere is lovely and we have a good laugh," she said. "It's just so nice" to know they're making a real difference.

This week, Comic Relief announced they'll be funding Uniform for All as part of their 2025 campaign. The donation will help the charity buy high-demand items they can't always get through donations, like shoes, socks, tights and blazers.

The timing couldn't be better as the charity heads toward its busiest season in July and August, when families prepare for the new school year.