THE Salvation Army in Penrith is stepping up to help local families cope with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis by offering free school uniforms.

Located on Hunter Lane, the church and charity will be providing shirts, polo tops, shorts, trousers, pinafore, and summer dresses in new and unused condition.

Families can access these items on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays while stocks last.

The range of uniforms available covers all ages, from nursery-age two-year-olds to high school 16-year-olds.

Major Carole Donaldson, the church leader of The Salvation Army Penrith, said: "The school summer holidays already bring added expense to families and to then face extra outgoings for mandatory uniforms that children require for the new school year, it can be very costly.  

READ MORE: Wigton's Free For All helping families 'when finances are stretched'

"We’re a church which understands the importance of working within the local community and we wanted to offer something that people can find useful, taking the pressure and stress away, as well as building on the existing relationships that we have with families in the area and creating new ones.

"This also gives us the opportunity to open our doors and see how we can offer support in many other ways too," she said. 

As more and more people struggle to make ends meet, demand for

This uniform project is only one of the ways in which The Salvation Army in Penrith supports individuals affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

In addition to school uniforms, the church and charity also provide baby, children, maternity, and adult clothing.

They also operate a food bank, offering food parcels three days a week via referral.

For those looking to support The Salvation Army's work in Penrith, a Just Giving page has been set up at www.justgiving.com/penrith-salvation-army.

The organization encourages people to donate only what they can afford, regardless of the amount.