Earlier this summer, we shared the news that Sheriff Construction was supporting local charity, The Level Trust, with a company donation and school uniform drive. Thanks to the generosity of our team, we’re delighted to have collected a fantastic selection of good-quality pre-loved and new school uniform, which we’ll be delivering to the charity this week.
The new school year may already be underway but, as any parent knows, children don’t stop growing once September arrives! We’re therefore confident these donations will soon be put to good use, helping local families with the ongoing cost of keeping their children properly equipped for school. Read on to find out more about The Level Trust and why Sheriff decided to support its work.
Helping families with the cost of school
For families with school-age children, the summer holidays can be an expensive time of year. Alongside the everyday costs of keeping children fed and entertained for several weeks, there’s often the additional expense of preparing for the new school year – from shoes and uniforms to PE kits and other essentials. When household finances are already stretched, these additional costs can create significant pressure.
At the beginning of the summer, we decided we wanted to do something practical to help families within our local Luton community. Our research led us to The Level Trust, a charity that works with children and young people to remove the barriers of poverty so every child gets a fair chance to learn and succeed in school.
Tackling child poverty in Luton
Over 55% of children in Luton are living in poverty – a shocking statistic and a clear indication of why charities like The Level Trust are trying to address this. Supporting some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children in our town, the charity offers a range of services:
- Uniform Exchange: They collect, wash and give out free second-hand school uniforms, PE kits, and winter coats so children stay warm and experience a sense of belonging amongst their peers.
- Essential Items: They provide brand new school shoes and learning resources to children who would otherwise go without.
- Holiday Support: They organise fun summer activities and family support to help parents during school breaks.
Last year alone, the charity supported more than 14,000 children – giving out thousands of shoes, coats and uniform items.
The Level Trust relies on fundraising and donations to carry out this work and says every offer of support, no matter its size, can help a child thrive and have a brighter future.
The impact goes beyond simply providing clothes and equipment. Helping with the cost of essential school items can reduce pressure on household finances, leaving families with more money available for necessities such as food, rent and household bills.
There is an environmental benefit too. Donating good-quality used uniform gives clothing a second life, keeps it in use for longer and reduces the amount going to landfill.
What Sheriff is doing to help
Having learned more about the fantastic work The Level Trust carries out in our community, we started our support earlier this summer with a £500 company donation.
To get our wider team involved, we set up a school uniform collection point at our office. Colleagues with school-age children were encouraged to bring in good-quality items their children had outgrown rather than disposing of them. For those without uniforms to pass on, we suggested simply adding an inexpensive school essential – perhaps a pack of polo shirts, a skirt or pair of trousers – to their shopping trolley and donating that instead.
We now have one full collection box plus an overspill of uniform items ready to go, containing a mixture of pre-loved items and brand-new essentials. We’re giving everyone a final few days to add to the collection before delivering everything to The Level Trust this week.
A big thank you to everyone who has contributed.
Want to help too?
Our office collection may be coming to an end, but The Level Trust needs support throughout the year. If you’d like to get involved, you can visit their website below to donate funds, volunteer your time or find drop-off points for good-quality school clothes.
Small actions can make a big difference. What are some of the ways you support your local community? Share your thoughts by commenting on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.
07.09.2026
Feature image: Sheriff Construction
Other image: Magnific
