Perennial, the
charity for people in horticulture across the UK, is ready to
support families this September meet the rising costs of school.
Parents and
carers naturally want to give their children the best start at school to
help them grow as individuals with opportunities to learn and thrive
throughout their school life.
But uniform, sports
equipment, school trips, term-time food, transport and other essential
education equipment can put real financial pressure on families. Where
there is a gap in short term provision or where families cannot
access the help they need, Perennial can directly support them.
Julia Hayne,
Director of Services at Perennial says: “The cost of raising a family
is rising but we’re not seeing wages increase at the same rate as
essential outgoings. We know many families are frustrated that, despite
being in work and budgeting carefully, they are still struggling to meet
the growing demands on their finances. We’re here to alleviate some
of the pressure, taking the stress out of going back to school and helping
families find financial solutions that will help them in the longer term.”
Perennial can help
families where at least one parent or carer works or has recently worked
in horticulture. The charity’s professional, friendly team can help people
access support towards the costs of uniform and sports kit, books and other
essential equipment, term time transport, educational school trips
and term time meal provision.
According to
a report by The Children’s Society, the average cost of secondary
school uniform, per year per child, is £340. Parents of primary school age
children spend an average of £255 per year, per child. Many people simply
can’t afford new uniform and for those forced to purchase
uniform from specific suppliers, the costs can result in debt or the
family going without other essentials.
In addition to
uniform, school trips are an expense that many families cannot afford.
A typical day trip ranges in cost from £10 to £80 per pupil with
additional transport costs depending on the school and the trip.
Residential trips can range from £200 to £350. While families in
receipt of Pupil Premium or free school meals are sometimes eligible for
subsidies or financial assistance from the school or local authority, this
is not always the case. Julia continues:
“We help families
every day, often facing difficult challenges, providing a safety net for
people who are not able to find support elsewhere. As your charity, we’re
here to give you the help and support you need.”
People find
themselves in need of help for any number of reasons including redundancy,
illness, injury, family bereavement or another life-changing event. There
is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution as every person’s situation is
different, but Perennial is here for everyone working in, or retired
from any branch of horticulture and wants to hear from anyone who
needs help accessing local support, choosing childcare options,
understanding their statutory rights or applying for a little extra
financial help during pinch points of the year such as children
returning to school.
If you, or someone
you know, works in horticulture and needs a helping hand, contact
Perennial in confidence on 0800 093 8543, email services@perennial.org.uk or
request support online at www.perennial.org.uk/backtoschool
