A Ramsgate mum-of-three is hoping to help other parents beat the cost of living with a school uniform and accessories recycling scheme.
Charmaine Wheeler, whose children are aged seven, six and six months, said she came up with the idea after her older two children asked for new backpacks for the coming school year.
The 31-year-old said: “The kids were finishing school and said they wanted new backpacks. We went to the shop and the backpacks were £20. The kids had only had theirs since last September so there is nothing wrong with them so it made me think about seeing what families needed and how, with the credit crunch, I could maybe get donations and then rehome them.
“Initially my plan was to just do backpacks but then people asked about uniforms and swim bags.
“My idea then sprung into this big thing.”
Charmaine says she is creating a school shop ‘without the actual shop’ and hopes it will help families save some money.
People can donate items either directly to her or message for pick up and Charmaine will rehome them.
She said: “I’ve had quite a few people offering backpacks and a lady dropped off some school uniform.”
Charmaine, who lives with her partner and children in Newington, can be contacted on Facebook or messenger via her page here
What a lovely idea, I will definitely be making a donation