Liverpool Entrepreneur Kate Stewart Raises £7,400 to Help Struggling Families with School Costs
Liverpool entrepreneur Kate Stewart has raised more than £7,000 to help families struggling with the cost of school uniforms and other essentials.
Kate launched her annual school uniform appeal last week, reaching its initial £5,000 target in less than three hours. A further £2,400 has since been donated, bringing the total raised to an incredible £7,400 in under a week.
The money will be used to purchase school uniforms, accessories and other essentials for hundreds of children across North Liverpool ahead of the new academic year.
Kate has long been passionate about supporting families living in some of Liverpool’s most deprived communities. It is a cause close to her heart, having experienced financial hardship herself around 24 years ago as a young single parent.
With the continuing cost-of-living crisis placing additional pressure on household finances, Kate is particularly concerned about parents and carers who are struggling to feed their children while also facing the considerable expense of new school uniforms.
Kate said: “Many schools work with just one shop or chain, which then has a monopoly on the branded uniform displaying that school’s logo. These items can be extremely expensive, especially for families buying for multiple children.
“Schools could provide parents with iron-on badges if they want uniforms to display their logo, which would be a great way to keep costs down for everyone. The current situation adds unnecessary stress for parents, and it is often the children who suffer. I cannot be aware of this and not do something to help.”
This year, Kate also hopes to involve more local businesses in the initiative. She is calling on hairdressers, food businesses and stationery retailers, among others, to donate products or services that could help families with the wider process of getting their children ready to return to school.
She hopes the initiative can grow into a community fun day, bringing families and businesses together while ensuring children feel prepared and confident about starting the new school year.
Kate added: “I have seen so many more people struggling with rising living costs. Children are at risk of being bullied or feeling self-conscious and anxious because their families cannot afford everything they need.
“I am enlisting the support of local businesses to help ensure these children do not suffer or feel left behind. If you can support the initiative in any way, it would be very much appreciated.”
Businesses interested in donating products or services, as well as individuals who would like to contribute, can support the campaign through Kate Stewart’s JustGiving page.
