Charity says unaffordable school uniforms has desperate parents cutting back on groceries

A charitable trust says parents are making the hard decision of cutting back on food to afford school supplies and uniforms.

The I AM Māngere trust was established to support community groups who were helping families during covid lockdowns.

CEO Toni Helleur says high rent alongside school costs have forced parents into desperate cutbacks.

"Right now our parents are struggling just to meet daily basic needs which is a human right," Helleur says.

"They're coming in for food parcels or asking to go to food banks.

"I guess your food is the first thing you cut off your budget to allow the purchase of your school uniforms for the year which is about $350 per child."

View the full interview on 531pi's Facebook page below:

Helleur says her children attend Māngere Central school which does not have a uniform, something she says allows "children to be children".

"That was one of the main reasons for not having a uniform.

"But also to help the parents with that cost of having a uniform. It's so nice not to have to worry about the uniforms."

She says schools do try to alleviate costs for parents through supplying students with free or subsidised fruits and vegetables and donated food.

Additionally at the end of each school holiday period any remaining food is gifted out to families.

Helleur says uniform swaps could help, where parents give away a uniform set their child used as they move schools.

"I don't really see that often. I think it's still the mindset change of not having something brand new," she says.

"I think we've got to swallow that pride a little bit and clothes share again. It does help."

Speaking on Talanoa Ako, Rowandale School Principal Karl Vasau says attending school is vital for children.

"We understand that there are so many reasons: Got no lunch so stay home, housing issues, families coming from overseas, going on overseas trips," Vasau says.

"There are agencies that the school can put you on to to support you.

"You're children need education, friendships, social skills, opportunities for learning outside their community and schools provide that."

Helleur says getting comprehensive government assistance has "been on the agenda for quite a few years".

"At the NGO level of food banks or donations to families it's becoming very hard to access and that funding's not there much anymore.

"Seeing students and parents struggling to the point where students are no longer coming to school.

"What needs to change? Does it need to go up higher? I think it may need to now.”

Organisations providing back-to-school support:

SWiS - Social Workers in Schools

I AM Māngere suggests that parents connect to their schools SWiS workers first, as they can then provide a more wraparound services.

Regarding uniform/fees financial support for families:

Variety Kids - financial support for children 0-18 years old

Work and Income

Salvation Army

Otherwise they reach out to us support@iamhapori.co.nz and we can help connect them to the right support.