Get Ahead of School Uniform Costs with Stamp and Save

We are so aware that with every new school year many parents and carers face the financial pressure of purchasing school uniforms, which can be a significant burden. That's where the Stamp and Save Scheme comes in, offering a simple and effective way for families to save gradually for this essential expense.

The scheme, coordinated by Vineyard Compassion, allows participants to set aside small amounts of money throughout the year, helping to ease the financial strain when it comes time to buy uniforms. This summer, the scheme saw many local families taking advantage of the opportunity to save.

Melanie Gibson, the scheme coordinator says, "It pleases us to help in some small way to relieve the pressure that parents and carers feel as they prepare for the new school year."

The positive impact of the scheme has not gone unnoticed. Local politicians, including Jim Allister MP, have shown their support, recognising the value of helping families manage the high costs of uniforms. A support video featuring Mr. Allister highlights the wider community's commitment to easing the financial burdens on parents and carers.

We think that the success of the scheme is best captured by the experiences of those who have benefited from it. One parent shared, "It has been really good to be a part of the scheme. It is a huge help in offsetting the cost of going back to school, especially now that I have one starting primary school and one starting secondary school.”

Ideally, we would like uniforms to be much more affordable and we will continue to speak out on the issue until every family can access uniforms without financial strain. Until then, Vineyard Compassion is proud to continue to provide the Stamp and Save scheme throughout the year to all parents and carers.

If you want to get ahead for next year, you can start your savings scheme now and beat the last-minute pressure. This scheme is for any family in the local community, and you don’t need to use any of our other services to take part. Just call into the Hope Centre reception and we’ll get you started.