“I hate all those weathermen who tell you that rain is bad weather. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing…” – Billy Connolly.

Thousands of families across Edinburgh are experiencing destitution, which means they are going without essentials such as clothing, food, shelter, heat, light, and toiletries.

As a result, there are a lot of local children who don’t have the right clothing for an Edinburgh winter. Many do not have a dry change of clothing after a wet walk home from school.

We’re appealing to those living or working in Edinburgh to donate funds or purchase clothing from our wish list to allow us to provide the right clothing to children who need it most. Items purchased from our wish list will be sent directly to us to distribute to children who need it most.

Our Winter Warmers campaign provides proper coats with hoods, gloves, socks, thick leggings and warm joggers to school children in the greatest need in Edinburgh.

A donation of £65 could provide a Winter Warmers bundle for a local child this winter.

Please donate funds or shop our wish list today, or contact us to find out more.

We’re delighted to announce that we have been awarded multi-year funding from the Bank of Scotland Foundation as part of their Energise programme. As we receive no council or government funding, we rely on support from every part of our community – individuals, companies, local clubs & groups, workplace teams, faith groups, schools and of course the funding bodies who help us keep the lights on. Thank you Bank of Scotland Foundation!

Kit Out a Kid – Summer 2025 is HERE!

Let’s make sure every child in Edinburgh starts the school year with confidence and dignity. Many families struggle to provide their children with basic essentials, and school clothing is an added worry during the summer holidays.

In 2024, your generosity helped us kit out thousands of local kids. The need is ever present — and we’re counting on you to help us do it again.

Donate uniform items via our shopping partner, Give Today. https://givetoday.co.uk/edinburghschooluniformbank/

Donate funds and we will do the shopping for you. https://edinburghuniform.org/donate/

Spread the word – every share helps!

Ready to make a difference?

Together, we can make a real difference. Let’s show Edinburgh’s young people that their community has their back.

We are delighted with the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to adopt government guidance around school uniforms. Schools will still have their own colours which foster a sense of belonging, but embroidered items will no longer be compulsory, encouraged or promoted by schools. This will bring the cost of the school day down and remove some of the barriers to attendance and inclusion that are so important for children and young people.

We’re over the moon to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of an MBE. Our volunteers work so hard to give local children the best chances in life, and we are delighted that their outstanding contribution has been recognised. Find out more about the award at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/  

We’re hiring! Are you an experienced manager who cares about children’s inclusion, wellbeing and education? Do you have a flair for stakeholder engagement, impact evaluation, project management and communication? Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/5x2vtady 

• Pupils’ comfort, happiness and freedom to learn and play should be at the centre of considerations about school uniform and clothing, alongside a focus on removing barriers to participation in school education. 
• Branded items of uniform and blazers should not be compulsory, nor promoted or encouraged by schools. 
• Schools should avoid including items that need frequent washing or are difficult to wash or dry, and
• promote and support arrangements for families to access pre-loved clothing, and
• consider the availability of non-standard sizes of uniform, clothing and footwear included within their policies to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their age or build, are able to access comfortable and practical clothing and footwear at a reasonable cost. 

Our Trustee Julia was honoured to go to Buckingham Palace this week on behalf of all our hardworking volunteers and staff. Clothes really matter, whether it’s a royal event or a wet Wednesday at school. Some children in Edinburgh have gone to school in their pyjamas because that’s all they had. We work hard to ensure that every child has what they need to fit in and stay warm & dry. It’s an honour to have our work recognised at the highest level.

We are expanding our Board of Trustees and we would love to hear from potential Trustees with a wide variety of skills and experience. If you might like to join the team on a voluntary basis and contribute to its strategy and governance, please click here to find out more.

We are delighted to announce that ESUB is now an accredited Living Wage Employer because we believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Find out more about the Living Wage at www.livingwage.org.uk