About Bridging the Gap (Manchester)
School Uniform Support
We provide school uniform support for families in need across South Manchester and North Trafford.
The cost of school uniforms in Greater Manchester is often prohibitively high and this significantly impacts families living in poverty. That’s why we run a school uniform support projects, providing school uniform items to families that would otherwise be unable to afford the cost. In the 2023-24 financial year alone we supported over 600 children with school uniform items.
School Uniform Grants
Through this project Bridging the Gap purchase new uniform items for children. Our focus is on purchasing expensive logoed items such as school branded blazers and jumpers. We purchase these through the school appointed provider and parents/children go to the shop to try on and collect the items to ensure a normal shopping experience.
This project works through professional referral. We accept referrals from selected referral agents only, primarily schools. Our project is only available based on funding, we are in touch with our referrers directly to inform them when funding is available. If you would like to enquire about a referral please speak to your child’s school.
We currently also have funding from One Manchester Housing Association and L&Q Housing Association to support their tenants. If you are a tenant of One Manchester or L&Q please speak to your Tenancy Support Officers about a referral.
If you are a professional and would like to learn more about or refer a family in for our school uniform grant scheme contact us on [email protected]
We are able to support children in schools in Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range, Chorlton, Didsbury, Old Trafford & Stretford only.
Preloved Uniform Shop
In 2023 we opened our school uniform shop to supplement the high demand for our school uniform grant project. This project helps to ensure our work is as cost effective and sustainable as possible, as well as assisting additional families finding it hard to buy school uniforms for their children. Parents are able to shop for uniform items at our warehouse or at one of our ‘pop up shops’ which run ad hoc at community events. Uniform pop up shop usually run during the summer holidays and dates/events will be updated on this page.
The shop is funded by donations of uniforms from the community and schools. Again, the project is run through professional referral, if you are in need of support please speak to your child’s school, if you are a professional enquiring about the project please contact us on [email protected]
If you would like to make a donation of school uniform items we accept non logoed items in good condition for children aged 3-16.
Items we are particularly in need of are
- Black or grey boys trousers
- Black or grey girls trousers / skirts / pinafores
- Boys/girls white polo tops
- Boys/girls white shirts
- Boys/girls winter coats
Donations can be made to the Unit 10, The Wesley Centre, Royce Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5BP. Our warehouse is open 9am-4pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
For large donations we are happy to arrange a collection, to arrange please contact us on [email protected] or 0161 226 3413