Luton charity aims to reduce the cost of the school day

Level Trust have been working across Luton schools for seven years to help families with the costs of school. Last year their project, the Uniform Exchange, provided free school uniform items to 2391 children in the town.

After seeing an increase in the number of children who need their support, the charity sought to draw on the work of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) piloting work to help local schools reduce the costs they ask families to pay for school.

Jane Malcolm, chief executive of Level Trust, said: “Our vision is for Luton to become the first affordable school town in the UK.

"That means all Luton schools signing up to reduce the costs they asks families to pay towards the school day.

"Making school affordable will mean children from low income families will be able to attend school more and feel more confident.”

CPAG, working with project partners Children North East, will use the lottery funding to help schools remove the financial barriers to learning and participation that hold low-income children back, alongside easing the pressure that school-related costs place on struggling families.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “School days are supposed to be the best days of a child’s life, but instead for some children and their families, they can be a source of anxiety if there are extra and unexpected costs for parents.

“Nine children in every class of 30 are growing up in poverty and although school is free, increasing costs are putting a great strain on families, causing some children to miss out on aspects of school life."

Level Trust plans to learn from the work of CPAG to further develop the support they have to offer our local schools.