Families in Portsmouth, Hampshire, can get free school uniforms, PE kits and winter coats through a local project designed to cut the cost of education during a February 2026 push. HIVE Portsmouth is running the Uniform Share Store to help ensure children have suitable clothing as they return from the mid-winter break.
The service operates from the lower ground floor of Portsmouth Central Library in Guildhall Square (PO1 2DX). Items can also be made available through pop-up or collection points at local schools — HIVE works with schools across the city (for example, Portsdown Primary lists HIVE uniform support). Families should request items by emailing [email protected] or by filling in the form on HIVE’s website; HIVE staff and volunteers will put together orders and arrange a convenient day and time for collection rather than offering unrestricted self-service browsing. Available items include branded blazers, school shoes, PE kit and winter coats donated by the community and sorted and prepared by volunteers.
According to Lorna Reavley, Chief Officer of HIVE Portsmouth, the service is open to everyone so parents do not have to choose between heating their homes and buying a new blazer. The support is intended to help families whose children have outgrown clothes or whose winter gear has worn out partway through the school year.
The project is supported by Portsmouth City Council, which promotes the service through its local support directory. Beyond saving families money, the Uniform Share Store also reduces textile waste by keeping good-quality clothes in use instead of sending them to landfill. For access, HIVE asks families to email [email protected] or use the online form; Portsmouth City Council’s directory also lists HIVE’s contact details for those who need help applying.
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