With school out for summer, Castle Quarter in Norwich city centre is reminding people to donate pre-loved school uniform items.

The centre has brought back its school uniform collection in a bid to redistribute items to local families, helping to ease the financial burden of the back-to-school shop.

Last year, Castle Quarter started collecting pre-loved shirts, blazers, skirts and trousers from its visitors, with the clothing then given out to parents and carers needing replacement items for school-aged children.

Now, as the end of the school year arrives, the centre has issued a reminder to people to bag up and donate good quality items of school uniform so they can host another ‘given in kindness’ event, which is taking place from 11^th to 15^th August.  

It means perfectly good pieces of school uniform will be handed on to new owners, preventing clothing from going to landfill and easing the cost of the back-to-school shop. 

Earlier this year, Castle Quarter’s school uniform pop-up events were hailed as a great success. Held in the centre in January and February, all 600 pieces of school clothing that had been generously donated were redistributed to local families, for free. 

At the time, parents commented that the scheme really helped with alleviating the pressure of buying new pieces of school clothing. So much so that the team at Castle Quarter have decided to make the collection a permanent initiative. 

To make donating as easy as possible, a ‘donation station’ has just been installed in the centre.  Donations can also be dropped off at the Castle Quarter management office, on level three. 

Gemma Hyde, marketing and administration manager says; “We’re busy making plans for another ‘given in kindness’ event in August, where people can pick up pre-loved uniforms ready for the new school year.

“One generous lady has already dropped off four large boxes of uniforms now that her children have left school.  If you’ll be having a clear out too at the end of term and have perfectly good pieces that could be reused, please donate. This simple gesture could make a lot of difference to another child and family.

“We had more than 600 pieces donated last year, with everything redistributed at our events in January and February, benefiting lots of local families. We’d love to help spread this kindness even further this summer.”

Some of the visitors who picked up free pre-loved clothing earlier this year said:

⭐ “School uniforms are so expensive, and this pop-up has really helped us. Thank you, to the team at Castle Quarter!”

⭐”This wonderful community project has been made possible thanks to the generous donations from our community. It has helped my family and many others. Thank you!”

⭐“Wow! This is overwhelming. You have so many donated items, and the school uniform items are new too. Thank you! “

⭐”We haven’t had a school uniform pop-up in the city centre before! This is a fantastic idea. Please host this again; it is much needed in the city centre!”

Gemma adds; “School uniform is essential, and it’s an important that children feel good and are ready to learn, when they get back to the classroom.  By collecting and redistributing school uniforms, we can help to ease some of the financial pressure of buying new uniforms while also making sure good quality clothing is passed on for re-use, which has an environmental benefit too.

“If you’re local to us in Norwich, please donate what you can. Our visitors gave this scheme their full support last year, and with their continued generosity, we can give back to even more local families.”

Simply bag up your preloved school uniform donations and drop them off at the donation station located on Level 2, near the Cattle Market entrance, near the lifts to the car parks.

Or drop off donations at the Castle Quarter Management Office. Go to Superbowl UK and take the escalator or lift to Level 3. Open 9am – 5pm.

‘Given in Kindness event’ 11^th – 15^th August

Pop-in and collect pre-loved school uniform at Castle Quarter

• It has been announced the next pop-up ‘Given in Kindness’ event will take place at Castle Quarter from Monday 11th August to Friday 15^th August.
• Visit the Centre Management Office, Level 3, Castle Quarter between 9am to 4pm.
• Pop in and collect one set of pre-loved school uniform per child.

Check Castle Quarter’s website and Facebook page for announcements.

What can you donate?

School uniform clothing that is plain or branded, and in any colour. Items must be washed and be in good, wearable condition, with all name tags removed if possible. Including:

Blazers | cardigans | jumpers | PE kits | polo shirts | shorts | shoes | skirts | pinafores |summer dresses | trousers.

Where can you donate?

Donations can be dropped off at the Castle Quarter management office, on level 3 between 9am and 5pm, Monday – Friday. Or drop your donations into the donation station on Level 2 near the lifts to the car parks.

When will the ‘given in kindness’ pop up take place?

From 11^th to 15^th August, 9am – 4pm.