A FREE school uniform drive is set to resume in Cleator Moor – and this time it will support families who might be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cleator Moor town councillor Michael Eldon and his partner Sarah Harper are holding this year’s free uniform drive at the Wath Brow Hornets club next Wednesday (August 19) from 10am until 3pm.

The couple were behind the first round of free uniforms in September 2019 which took place at The Phoenix Youth Centre with the help of the youth club’s project leader Paul Rowe.

Coun Eldon said: “We worked alongside Mirehouse councillor Carl Walmsley and Louise Walmsley.”

Couns Eldon and Walmsley hope to support the residents of their respective areas to get their children ready for the new school year in September.

The idea for the successful pilot phase was first dreamt up by the Walmsleys.

“Some people can’t afford to spent a lot of money on school uniforms. We appreciate that people might be struggling to buy new uniforms so we decided to help out the best we could.”

Residents of the town are being asked to donate uniforms that their child may have grown out of to the uniform drive.

The coronavirus pandemic has created a greater need for free uniforms as some families may be struggling financially due to being placed on furlough or redundancies.

Coun Eldon said: “This year we’ve had to go big. We have got Wath Brow Hornet’s main room because of the size of donations we’ve received.”

The hardship of the Covid-19 outbreak has brought out the community spirit in people of Cleator Moor.

He said: “My front room is jam packed with school uniforms. The response has been amazing we’ve had people dropping off brand new uniforms and saying ‘I just wanted to help out.’”

Coun Eldon thanked the rugby club for their support with the project.

So far the uniforms available include: Saint Benedict’s in Whitehaven, Whitehaven Academy, West Lakes Academy, Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School and Montreal School of Cleator Moor and Cleator Moor Nursery.

Back-to-school essentials are also available including: school shoes, trainers, football boots, school bags, book bags and school jackets.

Social distancing regulations will be in place at the event.

For more details or to organise a donation of school uniforms, email councillor Michael Eldon on: eldyphone@gmail.com