THE re3 waste and recycling partnership has announced it is teaming up with First Days children’s charity aimed at encouraging reuse, donations of, and access to affordable school uniform.
The School Uniform Reuse Scheme will see convenient locations for donations at recycling centres in Reading and Bracknell.
As part of the collaboration, re3 centres will now accept all types of primary and secondary school uniforms from any school located within Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Boroughs, including those with school logos and labels.
Once collected, First Days will carry out a quality check on all items, and niforms deemed suitable will be distributed directly to families in need or sold at low cost through their School Days Uniform Shop.
Donated uniforms should be in good condition and free from stains to ensure they can be used by the families who need them most.
Residents are asked to deposit uniforms at both sites all year round in the designated, clearly labelled containers.
A joint statement was released following the announcement by Cllr Karen Rowland, Chair of the Joint Waste Disposal Board; Cllr Helen Purnell, Vice-Chair of the Joint Waste Disposal Board and Bracknell Forest Council’s Executive Member for the Environment and Community Cohesion; and Cllr Katrin Harding, Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency.
The statement read: “The partnership with First Days is a great example of how our recycling centres help achieve both environmental and social benefits. Donating a school uniform might seem like a small gesture, but it can have a significant impact on a child’s confidence and a family’s well-being.
“By offering convenient drop-off points at our recycling centres, we make it easier for residents to donate uniforms, ensuring they are reused and made available at low cost to families in need.
“This initiative joins our book reuse, paint reuse, and compost donation schemes in supporting a local circular economy by keeping resources in use, reducing waste, and strengthening our communities.”
Scott Adams, re3 General Manager, FCC Environment added: “We’re proud to facilitate this effort and encourage residents to get involved by donating clean, good-quality uniforms at our sites.
“This new initiative complements other successful projects like re3read, our re3paint and the re3grow community composting scheme, showing our commitment to creating a circular economy and community support.”
A spokesperson at First Days Children’s Charity said: “Your uniform donations matter! Many local families struggle to afford essential school wear.
“Your donations are vital, enabling us to provide free uniform to families in crisis and offer affordable options for everyone in our community.
“Thank you for making a difference.”
re3 is a waste management partnership between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and FCC Environment.
More information about re3 is available via: re3.org.uk
First Days helps families in need by giving children access to vital items such as school uniforms, baby equipment, and warm clothing, working alongside parents to reduce stress and restore dignity, aiming to empower families for long-term stability and success.
More information about First Days is available via: firstdays.net
