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News
Leeds School Uniform Exchange Launches First-Ever Pop-Up Shop at the Merrion Centre
Tue 15 Jul, 2025
Free school uniforms for families across Leeds in time for the new school year
The Merrion Centre is proud to announce that it will host the first-ever city centre pop-up shop for the Leeds School Uniform Exchange (a campaign run by Wear and Share Leeds) this August – providing free, good-quality school uniforms to families across the city during one of the most financially challenging times of the year.
A Sustainable Solution to Back-to-School Costs
The pop-up is part of a growing city-wide movement led by the Leeds School Uniform Exchange, which aims to make it easy for families to reuse, rather than buy new. With recent figures from the Department for Education showing the average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit at £442 for secondary school pupils and £343 for primary pupils, this initiative is a vital lifeline for many.
“Over the years, our community’s support has been incredible,” said Tracy Morgan, Co-Manager of Leeds School Uniform Exchange. “By sharing pre-loved uniform, we’ve been able to help so many families and reduce textile waste at the same time. We hope to engage even more people in reusing and sharing clothing.”
Debbie Binnersley, Co-Manager, added: “The Leeds School Uniform Exchange has made a real difference for thousands of families and saved them hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process.”
Last year alone, the Exchange supported over 367 uniform pop-up events, giving away 22,880 items of uniform and saving families an estimated £388,960. These efforts also prevented nearly 4,600kg of textiles from ending up in textile waste.
Supporting Leeds Families at the Merrion Centre
“We’re thrilled to be hosting the first-ever Leeds School Uniform Exchange pop-up in the city centre here at the Merrion Centre,” said Charlotte-Daisy Leeming, Head of ESG at Town Centre Securities PLC, owners of the Merrion Centre. “At a time when many families are facing rising costs, this initiative provides real, practical help while also promoting sustainability – a key value for both TCS and the communities we serve.”
The Merrion Centre pop-up will run on the following dates:
Open: 10am – 2pm
Location: The Upper Balcony level, Merrion Centre, Leeds
Dates: Wednesday 6th I Thursday 7th I Monday 11th I Friday 15th I Friday 22nd I Saturday 23rd I Wednesday 27th I Thursday 28th I Friday 29th
No booking is required, and all items are free of charge. Uniform donations are also welcome and can be dropped off at the pop-up during opening hours.
How It Works:
Families can simply drop in, browse, and take what they need. Items typically include:
• Shirts, polos, trousers, skirts, blazers, and jumpers
• P.E. kits, shoes, and accessories (subject to availability)
• Items sorted by size and school where possible