Hive Portsmouth sets up pop-up exchange shop to get kids kitted out for school

Getting children kitted out in new school uniform ready for the start of the academic year is a summer ritual for many families but the cost of clothing, school shoes and PE kit can soon mount up and add to the financial pressure on parents.

The community support group has set up the shop where parents are encouraged to bring school uniform to swap for items they need, wherever they can, to help the shop stay stocked and to help the environment by recycling school uniform.

Father Bob White, chair of the Hive Board, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to open the new shop just in time to help families in the city who are getting children ready to go back to school.

‘We know school uniform can be a big expense for some families so we hope the pop-up shop will help them to kit their children out for the new term without the financial worries.’

Portsmouth City Council's cabinet member for education, Cllr Suzy Horton, added: ‘I wholeheartedly support the new Hive Portsmouth pop-up shop. I think it's a great idea and would really encourage anyone with school uniform in good condition to donate and help families get ready to get back to school.’

As well as the exchange of clothes the initiative also relies on the donation of items.

Father Bob added: ‘We'd love to hear from any businesses that could help us to stock the shop. We'd also welcome any donations of second hand school uniform in good condition, which can be dropped off at the pop-up shop. If you can help, please get in touch.’

SEE ALSO: Hampshire and Portsmouth students celebrate GCSE results despite challenge of lockdown

Anyone who can help is urged to contact the Hive helpline on 023 9261 6709.

The shop will be located on the ground floor of the Central Library in Guildhall Square and is open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday, apart from Wednesdays when the service is available from 1pm to 5pm.

To ensure public safety, all donated items are washed and stored for the appropriate length of time.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.