The Parently Group’s flagship brand, school uniform manufacturer David Luke, is calling on businesses to consider how they can go further in the ways they support charities as we enter 2022 in fresh pandemic crisis.

Following another successful year of working in partnership with Wood Street Mission on its SmartStart project, David Luke’s managing director, Kathryn Shuttleworth, is urging business leaders to strengthen their connections to charity organisations. The aim is to pool expertise and private sector infrastructure to deliver the best outcome for those receiving support.

Child Poverty is rising year on year and the largest cities are always hardest hit.

During its five-year SmartStart partnership, over 14,254 children in Manchester and Salford have received free school uniform through Wood Street’s SmartStart Scheme. In 2021 alone, Wood Street Mission gave school uniform to 3,180 children from 1,513 families, as Shuttleworth explains.

“Our partnership helps to solve the problem of school uniforms being unaffordable for many families across Manchester and Salford. But unlike a traditional charity partnership, we work with Wood Street as if they were a retail customer. This includes a subsidised commercial partnership that sees our support extend beyond the provision of brand-new school uniform to fully integrate customer services, delivery and returns, even staffing the pop-up shop.

“While it may be tempting for businesses to scale back charity projects in light of pandemic pressures, families who rely on the support of partnerships like Wood Street Mission and David Luke are going to need our support more than ever in 2022. We would urge other businesses in the region to consider how they might integrate a charitable initiative into their plans. To look beyond cash donations and consider how pooling their expertise and products might be best used to support those of us experiencing poverty.”

Since the partnership started in 2017, David Luke has helped 14,524 children from 6,338 families.

The cost of school uniform has been high on the news agenda this year following the introduction of The Education (Guidance about Cost of School Uniforms) Act 2021. Many families struggle to meet the cost of buying new school uniform. The benefits of wearing a uniform, however, cannot be underestimated. This is why SmartStart is so important in Wood Street Mission’s special projects calendar, as Mark Gaffney explains.

“Our SmartStart program is essential for the families we support. We honestly believe in the positive impact of uniform and have seen first-hand how it helps children to integrate, to feel excited to learn and be able to blend in with other kids without feeling different. A happier child means better concentration in studies and helps with confidence. Our partnership with David Luke demonstrates how our charity can work in partnership with the private sector and truly make a difference to those who need our support most.”

With over 40% of children in Manchester living in poverty, initiatives that support families throughout the year are critical. Wood Street Mission is therefore urging businesses to consider how they might support similar projects in 2022. For further information on Wood Street Mission, please click here.