A PROPOSAL to help deprived local families afford school uniforms and other equipment for their children has been unanimously approved by a Keighley Town Council committee.

The recommendation that the town council should fund the Uniform Poverty scheme was put to members of its finance and audit committee at their meeting yesterday evening. (Dec 17)

A town council spokesman confirmed: “The committee unanimously passed the Uniform Poverty program.

“The program is set to help hundreds of primary school children with the cost of a school uniform.”

The plans will now be sent back to a full meeting of the town council for a debate and vote.

The idea was first outlined to the town council at its latest full meeting last month (Nov) by Cllr Brian Morris.

Cllr Barry Thorne, finance and audit chairman, said: “I’d like to thank Cllr Morris for coming up with the proposal and putting a lot of work into it. Full credit to him.

“If we can do something to look after those kids who are in poverty at the moment then that would be something very positive.”

Cllr Thorne added it was difficult to assess the exact cost of the initiative without knowing what the take-up rate would be, but said it was expected to amount to more than £35,000 a year, with a potential upper limit of roughly £50,000.

If it wins full town council backing, the scheme will help those primary school children in Keighley who receive free school meals.

A previous estimate released by Cllr Morris noted that at least 740 Keighley pupils could be eligible under this criteria.

The initiative would involve Uniform Poverty vouchers being distributed to individual schools.

The schools would issue these to eligible families who would redeem them at shops where uniforms can be bought.

The shops would then invoice the town council for the cash.

A similar program is already operated by Halewood Council, in Merseyside.

Cllr Morris warned that children whose parents can’t afford the correct uniforms or other additional educational costs for their children can be isolated and become easy targets for bullies.

In his written presentation to the town council he said: “The bullies look for difference and target anyone who they think is different from the rest.

“We have the opportunity to remove one of these differences.

“No child wants to go to school and be bullied, no child wants to be left at home while their mates go on a school trip and no child wants to go to school knowing they will be one of the people who doesn’t have a school uniform.

“What could be more satisfying than to go home and say, in a small way, I helped some child with their education today?”