Greenmount Primary School goes green with uniform shop

Greenmount Primary School has installed an onsite uniform shop enabling parents to buy second-hand clothing at bargain prices.

The school won a grant from Bury Council to transform a dilapidated storeroom into a modern shop, which will be staffed by volunteers from the school’s PTA.

Head teacher David Griffith said: “With the soaring cost of living, the price of school uniforms has become prohibitive for many parents. Our new shop gives them the chance to buy high-quality items for only a couple of pounds.

“Parents have donated clothing and their time and skills to construct the shop. We are keen to expand this initiative and would encourage other schools to get onboard and do similar projects.”

Greenmount was one of 12 groups across the borough to receive a grant from the council’s £100,000 Let’s Do It! Community Climate Action Fund.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “It’s incredible to think that £140 million worth of clothing is sent to landfill each year, and shops like this are a great way to reduce textile waste, especially given how quickly children grow!

“It’s so important that we all take action now to make our society green and carbon neutral. Our children, and their children, deserve to grow up in a clean and healthy world where resources are not wasted.”

Cllr Quinn added: “As well as reducing waste, this project also helps parents with the cost of living – and it complements the council’s plans to provide school uniform grants to around 6,000 parents whose children receive free school meals.”

Similar grants are still available through Recycle 4 Greater Manchester’s Community Fund – for details, see https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/community-fund/

ENDS

Press release issued: 27 May 2022.