Research by UK affordable footwear retailer, Wynsors, found that one of the main ways parents have been trying to cut uniform costs is by buying second-hand. By carrying out a survey of more than 1,000 British parents, Wynsors uncovered that 1 in 5 parents (20%) are buying second-hand school uniform this year.

With the Department of Education also recently making it mandatory for schools to have second-hand uniforms on offer, it’s no wonder that schools and charities across the country have been inundated by demand.

Google searches for ‘uniform swaps’ have seen an 80% increase when compared to last year, and there has been over 300 tweets on the topic since the start of July. Not only that, but there are over 402k views on TikTok for the hashtag #uniformswap, showing how more and more parents are getting thrifty this back-to-school season.

To help parents looking to host their own uniform swap, Wynsors has also put together some tips to arm parents with the knowledge on how to get started:

Check what’s already out there – Most communities may already have a uniform swap set up, so it’s best to check before getting started. Your help might be better suited to helping an established uniform swap reach new members, rather than setting up your own.
Set up a Facebook page – If there isn’t a uniform swap for your area or school, you’ll need a place to organise and promote it. Starting a Facebook group is an easy and free way to create a place for parents to start swapping.
Publicise on the playground – For a uniform swap to be successful, you’ll need fellow parents to swap uniform pieces with. Make sure to mention it to others when picking up your kids from school, or better yet, ask the school if they’ll mention it on your behalf.
Don’t over wash the uniform – When it comes to swapping old uniforms with other parents, make sure not to over wash the clothes beforehand. It’s always best to wash on a lower heat, so you’re not at risk of damaging or shrinking an item that could be donated.
Repairing and sharing – Sometimes kids can play rough, and their uniform can end up with the odd hole or loose stitching. This doesn’t mean it can’t be donated though. Still try swapping an item, even if you think it’s no longer of use – another parent may be able to repair the damage and make use out of it.