Thursday June 12th 2025
West Lothian's School Bank new uniform hub
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian’s School Bank has opened four new uniform hubs in schools across the county.
The bank had funding from West Lothian Climate Action Network for a scheme which helps families in need and clothes thousands of children a year.
The new hubs help tackle inequality, cut down on waste and encourage environmental responsibility among pupils.
More importantly, one teacher said, “children come into school with their heads held higher.”
Two high schools and two primaries have been chosen for the hubs. They are James Young High School, known as JY High Street; Armadale Academy, The Dale Drop Shop, Bridgend Primary, Bridgend Boutique and Dedridge Primary, where a name has yet to be chosen.
Collette Moran, Project Manager, explained: “School uniforms—especially costly items like blazers—can place a significant financial burden on families.
“These hubs offer a practical, eco-friendly solution that ensures every student feels prepared and included. It’s about more than just clothing—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and support.”
She added: “These school-based hubs are not only fostering inclusion and environmental awareness—they’re building stronger, more resilient communities, one uniform at a time.
“We are extremely grateful to the West Lothian Climate Action Network (WLCAN) for funding this project and enabling The School Bank West Lothian to turn an idea into action.
“Our hope is to continue this work and expand uniform recycling hubs to even more schools across West Lothian, so every child has access to what they need to thrive.”
Karen McAlear, an Advanced Pupil Support Worker in Armadale told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Dale Drop In Shop has made a real difference helping pupils feel confident, included and ready to learn. The right uniform doesn’t just help young people fit in school, it gives them the confidence to show up, belong, and believe in themselves.”
Lisa Johnstone, Principle Teacher at Dedridge Primary School said: “Children look smarter and have a sense of pride in their uniform – heads are held higher. We also have a Cost of the School Day leadership group who have already launched a competition to give the new and improved Resource Hour a new name, using pupil voice throughout the school. This group is also keen to help with the sorting on uniforms and PE kits as donations are made and record the amount we are saving going to landfill”.
Chair of the School Bank, Kirstin Shemilt told the LDRS: “Clothing has one of the highest carbon footprints among consumer goods. From the resource-heavy production process to the waste generated by fast fashion, the environmental toll is enormous. That’s why reusing and recycling school uniforms is so important to us.”
“We collaborated closely with each school to assess resource needs, develop donation and distribution processes, and rebrand designated spaces to ensure they were welcoming and accessible.
“Our Project Worker, Janine Downie, worked alongside school teams to bring these hubs to life with dedication and care.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
