The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) offers grants to fund essential items for the children of UK fashion and textile workers, and from 1-31 July, it will be running a Back to School campaign. As well as promoting FTCT’s financial assistance, which contributes to everything from school uniform to laptops, this year’s campaign will take on a broader scope by highlighting the various schemes and initiatives available to help with any school-related cost. Laura Turner speaks to FTCT chief executive, Anna Pangbourne, to learn more.

 

Laura Turner: What is the goal of FTCT’s Back to School campaign?

Anna Pangbourne: Our annual Back to School campaign runs in the summer months, which is when most parents apply to us for a school uniform grant, and the campaign’s goal is twofold. As the sole organisation giving financial support to the children of fashion and textile families in the UK, we created this campaign as a way to raise awareness of the reasons why a family might approach us for a grant and create opportunities for new support systems to be put in place by employers. These could include links with local uniform banks, extra discounts for Back to School items, or buy-back schemes. Having support from schemes like these alongside access to financial grants can really help those families who are struggling the most.

Secondly, and just as importantly, we wanted to use this campaign to raise vital funds to support our work. All our grants are funded by charitable donations and as demand increases, our resources are depleting. We felt it was important to give the industry a platform to give back to the only charity dedicated to supporting the working families across its sector.

 

 

LT: What response did you get to last year’s campaign?

AP: Last year was our first campaign so we didn’t really know what to expect, but it was really great to see the enthusiasm of our supporters. With coverage from press partners including CWB Magazine and Drapers, the campaign helped us to reach new audiences and grew engagement with both corporate partners like ACS Clothing and individual supporters.

Through the campaign, we were able to fund 10 more school uniform grants. Additionally, through a partnership with the streetwear brand HYPE, we sent around 100 backpacks and pencil cases to children of industry families living in financial insecurity. Seeing the Back to School pictures and huge smiles on the faces of the children who received them was brilliant and reminded us all why it’s so important to continue this campaign and grow it year-on-year.

LT: The 2024 campaign is launching under the title #MyBackToSchoolCost: Easing the Back-To-School Worry for Fashion and Textile Families. Can you tell us more about this theme?

AP: We chose this theme to really try and reflect the lived experience of the families who approach us for support. We can’t ignore the harsh reality that children across the UK are being left behind at school due to economic challenges, including those of fashion and textile families.

According to our recent survey, 75% of parents working in fashion and textiles find the burden of Back to School expenses extremely stressful, while 57% of families say they have used credit plans to pay for their child’s school uniform. Many of the families we surveyed have the advantage of being able to use staff discounts to help cover the cost of uniform, but there are so many other school costs like technology for homework, school trips, school meals and bus passes, that weigh heavily on their minds. This time of year brings an acute increase in the cost outlay for parents and the financial stress can be very intense for families who are in serious hardship. Throughout the campaign, we are encouraging the fashion and textile industry to rally together to ease the Back to School period for families and ensure every child has the tools they need to thrive in school.

 

 

LT: How do you foresee demand for your grants this year in comparison to 2023?

AP: Within the Back to School checklist, our grants can contribute to school uniform items so children can have the right uniform and properly fitting shoes, as well as tablets or laptops so they can do their homework, and desks, chairs and bookshelves so they can have a calm study environment at home. These items are in high demand all year round; however, it peaks around the summer months when children start transitioning to new schools, from primary to secondary and sixth form or vocational college.

As we still see the effects of the cost of living crisis, particularly on families’ personal debt levels, we anticipate demand to be higher than last year. That’s why the fundraising aspect of our campaign is just as important as promoting awareness and we are using this time to highlight a period during the year when the financial pressure of school items is most acute.

 

 

LT: How can suppliers and retailers get involved?

AP: We’re encouraging companies and retailers to get involved in two ways. Fundraise or donate to support the campaign and also promote our grants to families who are struggling. We’ve put together a campaign pack to support companies and give them some ideas on how to get started.

Plus, we’re keen to hear from retailers who have their own schemes to ease the Back to School period, whether that’s local uniform banks, buy-back schemes, or discount vouchers for employees. We want to highlight all the help available that can ease the cost for families for all school-associated costs, from uniform to bus passes and laptops to school trips. We encourage companies to share their initiatives using the campaign hashtag #mybacktoschoolcost.

LT: How does someone apply for a grant?

AP: There are two steps to our application process. Step one is to complete our enquiry form to see if we can help your family. Step two is to complete our application form, where you will be asked to provide proof of your fashion and textile employment, plus a recent bank statement to show household income and expenditure. The whole process, from completing the form to having the grant, usually takes about four weeks.

 

 

LT: Where can interested parties obtain further information on the FTCT and its work?

AP: The best place to get information about the campaign is our website and for anyone wanting to get involved, we encourage them to email fundraising@ftct.org.uk. You can also follow the campaign on socials using the hashtag #mybacktoschoolcost.