EasyJet is set to donate thousands of retired crew uniforms to support British families struggling to deal with the rising cost of school clothing.
As part of a crew uniform update, the airline aims to recycle or donate 100 per cent of retired garments from its old uniform.
It will pass on items that are still fit for reuse to support a range of charities in areas near its operations.
It comes as 58 per cent of British households are struggling with the financial pressures of school uniforms, according to new research from the airline.
EasyJet said with more than a third of Brits (34 per cent) have to sacrifice household essentials to make ends meet.
Nearly one in five (19 per cent) use overdraft and credit cards to afford new school uniforms.
The donation drive will begin in Luton, where easyJet headquarters are based.
The airline will partner initially with local charity, Level Trust, to support the estimated 45 per cent of children living in poverty in the area.
EasyJet has unveiled plans to donate thousands of retired crew uniforms in a bid to support British families struggling to deal with the rising cost of school clothing
As part of a crew uniform update, the airline aims to recycle or donate 100 per cent of retired garments from its old uniform
The Luton-based charity, which works across 75 Luton schools, provides pre-loved school clothes to local families via its Uniform Exchange programme.
It will take some of easyJet’s uniforms to provide them for older year students living in the area who are in need of new items.
This will include items such as shirts, skirts, blazer jackets and trousers.
Parents say they spend an average of £255 a year on school uniform items for just one child, totalling £3,072 in a lifetime, easyJet reported.
Within this, 53 per cent of parents found they need to buy new/replacement uniform items even before the end of the first term – adding further financial strain.
As a result, easyJet will be making an initial donation to the charity for the October half term period to support the spike in demand the Level Trust sees at its Uniform Exchange over this period.
EasyJet’s uniform update is due for November.
After this, the airline is set to roll out the initiative to other charities supporting a range of initiatives in Luton and London Gatwick later this year.
This comes at a time when 58 per cent of British households are struggling with the financial pressures of school uniforms, according to new research from the airline
It has further plans to extend across further UK bases and into Europe in 2026.
Michael Brown, director of cabin services for easyJet, said, ‘We’re proud to launch our uniform recycling programme – our aim for this first phase is both to support parents who are facing financial hardships as well as reduce our textile waste.
‘Our crew uniforms have always represented care, professionalism and unity, and we’re honoured that they’ll carry those same values into classrooms to empower the next generation.’
Jennie White from Level Trust said: ‘We have seen a significant rise in requests for school uniforms, highlighting the challenges many families are facing.
‘EasyJet’s donation of surplus uniforms is a crucial step in addressing these needs as this initiative not only helps alleviate the financial strain on parents but also ensures that children have the necessary attire to feel confident and focused at school.’
