Council email casts doubt on £50 uniform support scheme

Families across St Helens had been expecting details of the support ahead of the new school year, but a response sent to a resident by St Helens Borough Council stated that "it does not appear" the scheme will be offered.

However, when approached by the Star, the council insisted that no final decision has yet been made.

Last week, the Star reported that uncertainty remained over the proposed scheme, which had been expected to provide £50 towards school uniform costs for every school-age child in the borough.

At the time, St Helens Council said that the proposal was still under review and that a decision had not yet been made.

However, new details appear to have emerged.

A St Helens resident contacted the Star this week after receiving a response from the council which stated: "The decision around help with school uniforms was made prior to the change in Council leadership.

"The Council is now under new leadership, and a decision has not been made around this.

"However, it does not appear that this support will now be offered."

The email stated: "It does not appear that this support will now be offered" (Image: Supplied)

The email was sent in response to an enquiry from the parent, who had contacted the council seeking an update on the previously announced scheme.

The development is likely to raise fresh concerns for families preparing for the return to school amid continuing pressure on household finances.

Councillor Keith Laird, who is the head of the St Helens Labour Group, said: "Pulling the rug out from under families just weeks before the new school term begins would be an appalling failure of basic duty and compassion.

"When Labour led the council, we made a clear, funded commitment to help ease the burden of back-to-school costs by introducing free school uniform support for our borough's children. 

"We passed a fair and responsible budget and this policy was designed specifically to ease the heavy cost-of-living pressures on local families ensuring real, tangible help reached working households when they needed it most."

The Children's Society recently warned that many families are still struggling with the cost of the school holidays and preparing children for the new academic year.

Research commissioned by the charity found that 68% of parents in the North West said school holiday costs were higher than a year earlier, while 56% described the holidays as financially stressful.

The charity welcomed new rules due to come into force this September which will limit the number of compulsory branded uniform items schools in England can require, arguing the changes will help reduce costs for families across the country.

However, uncertainty remains over whether St Helens families will receive the £50 support previously announced by the council.

When the Star approached St Helens Borough Council for clarification on the future of the scheme and to establish whether a formal decision has been taken, they gave the exact same response they issued last week: "This scheme is still being reviewed and no final decision has been made yet."