In 2017 St. Helens Council ended the Discretionary School Clothing Allowance - a £250,000 cut that had previously supported families for 20 years. Since then, low income families have reported an increasing struggle to provide a full, correct uniform for their child(ren). The effects of this have included; accumulation of debt, bullying, exclusion from school and more. 

Uniform banks have been set up by kind local people and organisations to ease the burden on struggling parents, but many residents of St Helens believe that St. Helens Council have a duty to step in and take action. 

This petition has been started with the hopes that St. Helens Council will consider reintroducing the grant, or consider providing some additional support to low income families. Additionally, for the council to update their website to inform parents of where and when they can access local uniform banks.