Simon Gossling, co-founder of online school uniform recycling initiative Uniformerly, has received a Points of Light Award. Presented daily by the Prime Minister, these awards highlight outstanding individuals who are making a change in their community by creating positive social change for people or the planet.
Gossling, who is from Cheltenham, received the award in recognition of his hard work creating and launching Uniformerly − the UK’s nationwide, award-winning school uniform recycling initiative to help parents cut the cost of buying school uniform and reduce clothing waste.
Established during lockdown in 2020, Uniformerly provides a website and free online marketplace where parents, schools and PTAs can buy, sell, give away and recycle outgrown uniforms direct to other parents at their school.
Members from over 3,950 schools are now registered with Uniformerly.
The initiative also works alongside school uniform suppliers and local authorities to improve sustainability, social inclusion and child poverty prevention.
Commenting on the award, Gossling says; “It’s an honour to receive this nomination and a huge boost for Uniformerly, which has been an enormous team effort. We will continue to work hard to make sure that as much school uniform as possible is recycled and reused, helping parents, schools and the environment.”
Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury, adds; “I’m very glad that Simon has been recognised for the hard work he undertook during lockdown. Helping parents with cost-cutting whilst also promoting recycling is a terrific initiative, especially when coupled with his passion for the environment and child poverty prevention. Well deserved.”
First established by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, over 6,000 US Points of Light have been recognised in the USA. UK Points of Light was developed in partnership with the US programme and launched in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street in April 2014.
To visit the Uniformerly website, please click here. Alternatively, please click here for further details on UK Points of Light.
