STRUGGLING Wee County families will once again get help preparing their little ones for school, thanks to a successful community project.

The Gate in Alloa, working in partnership with local politicians and Tesco, have brought back the School Uniform Bank which has proven popular in 2015 and 2016.

The Uniform Bank offers Clacks families the opportunity to donate their good quality used kit from this year and to pick up new and second-hand school uniforms ahead of the new school term.

Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, said: “The Uniform Bank has been a great success over the last two years, helping hundreds of local families, and I am delighted to work with The Gate and Tesco to run it again this year.

“Families on low incomes are continuing to struggle in the face of Tory austerity and the new school term can an expensive time of the year for many.

“If the Uniform Bank can help ease this, while ensuring that good quality school clothing is re-used then this can only be a good thing.”

He added: “I’d like to thank everyone who has donated so far – every single donation will help a child in Clackmannanshire look and feel smart going back to school.”

The clothes and equipment will be available as an “open-to-all uniform bank and exchange” at The Gate Centre, from Monday, 24 July, to Friday, 28 July, between 2pm and 4pm.

Evelyn Paterson the chair of The Gate said: “The School Uniform project is greatly appreciated by our community.

“We have received a huge amount of donations this year and hope the ‘open week’ will be very busy. Last year we supported over 200 children and we hope to reach even more children this year.

“Our aim is that every child in Clackmannanshire attends school appropriately dressed, and with dignity and confidence.”

Ellen Forson, SNP councillor for Alloa, added: “Uniforms are a necessary and essential part of a child’s experience at school but many families on lowincome can struggle to finance them.

“Over the last two years we have been able to help hundreds of children start the new term with a new school uniform and it’s great to be involved in the project again which made such a huge difference to many families across Clackmannanshire.

“I’d encourage anyone who is finding it difficult to put a school uniform together to pop into The Gate week commencing 24 July.”