Helping Local Children Get Ready For the New School Year  

With the new school year beckoning, WPR is once again working with the Ladywood Community Project, a small charity which supports local families facing poverty or financial hardship, to help children get ready to go back-to-school.  

Providing suitable school uniform kit is a key service from the charity at this time of year and, so far this summer, it has received 36 referrals for assistance. With referrals still coming in as September approaches, the Project has provided uniforms for 43 children, 29 of whom are moving from primary to secondary. 

Gerardine Giblin, trustee of the Ladywood Community Project, said: “In Ladywood 62% of children are living in poverty despite parents working. For many parents, the cost of school uniforms, particularly for secondary school can be overwhelming.  

“We are grateful to WPR for helping us support vulnerable families by providing new school uniforms. Having the correct uniform gives children confidence, especially when starting at a new school, and parents are incredibly appreciative of the help they receive.”  

Jane Ainsworth, managing director of WPR, said: “Ladywood is just a mile from our Edgbaston office and we know the Ladywood Community Project makes a real difference to the local community. When the team explained how vital new school uniform can be, particularly to children already experiencing the upheaval of moving schools, we recognised that it was a practical way we could help.” 

WPR has been supporting the local charity for six years and became the Project’s official school uniform provider in 2022. As well as funding new school uniform, WPR has also funded improved insulation to help families reduce fuel bills and provided pro-bono consultancy to the charity.