Founded in 2016, the charity operates across West Lothian with one aim – ensuring that every child can go to school with their head held high. Not every child starts school in August with a new uniform, and this can profoundly impact their self-esteem. The charity’s mission is to ensure that every child experiences the same sense of belonging and can look forward to returning to school.

Over the past eight years, the charity has supported over 8,000 families facing financial hardship, providing new uniforms, jackets, shoes, and school bags. They work with various community professionals, such as schools, charities, social services, Women’s Aid, and The Advice Shop, who have referred over 2,000 young people to the school bank in the past year alone.

The group received the £5,000 donation through Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative, which supports charities and good causes in the areas the company operates in. The programme has seen more than £360,000 donated across Scotland in the last five years.

Collette Moran, The School Bank West Lothian project manager, said: “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Persimmon for their generous donation of £5,000 as it will help us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of children and families in West Lothian.

“Our packs are more than just a bag of clothes. They help combat low self-esteem and exclusion, can significantly reduce the risk of bullying, and improve school attendance by providing items that allow children to get to school and take part in activities they previously were unable to.”

Laura Still, Persimmon East Scotland sales director, added: “Our Community Champions scheme is all about supporting the areas we operate in, and I’m delighted we’re able to support the School Bank with their ongoing work to ensure that no child is unable to attend school.

“The work that Collette and the team do at the School Bank is heartwarming, I hope that this donation will enable to charity to continue providing much needed everyday essentials to pupils across West Lothian when they return after the summer.”

The charity is preparing for West Lothian schools to return after the summer and there are a variety of ways locals can help support the work, they do from donating or recycling uniforms to making a donation.