The Glossop based clothes bank Hummingbird Project has been appealing to locals for school uniforms in readiness for the start of the new term.

“Over the holidays it is great if we can get as much school uniform in here as possible” says Jo Gregory, the founder of The Hummingbird Project.

The Hummingbird Project initially began in 2020 as Jo noticed a rise in the need of a clothing bank and baby bank for the local community. Since then, the Hummingbird Project has helped thousands of individuals and families, regifting a range of items to those in need in their community. And with the new school term on the horizon, the team at The Hummingbird Project will yet again be giving away countless uniforms to those in need.

The appeal the project put out for the uniforms has already had an overwhelming response directly from schools, with credit going to Dinting, St James, St Lukes, Duke of Norfolk, Glossopdale, Phillip Howard, Padfield, Hollingworth and Simmondley all having already donated uniforms or having made the promise to donate soon. Jo spoke on this, saying “We get full quite quickly, because people are so good at giving. The response when we do our donation appeal is phenomenal.”

Other people have pitched in to help The Hummingbird Project with their appeal as well, with the pupils of Dinting C of E School having prepared posters and large bags for Glossop schools to help spread the word further and to see that more parents can easily donate their unwanted clothing.

The pupils initially helped to sort the donations at The Hummingbird Project as part of the Archbishop of Yorks’ Young Leaders Award, and then decided to help out further by aiding the clothing bank through their generous acts that will help to spread the message of the appeal even further.

With so much response to the appeal, The Hummingbird Project has been able to gather and sort a whole spectrum of school items. “We have primary school and secondary school branded and non-branded uniforms, PE kit, pumps, school bags, coats,” Jo continues, “anything you could possibly need to go back to school in September.”

But with so much coming in, Jo also says “Unfortunately, we do have to stop donations as we get too full sometimes, so if you get in contact with us you will know absolutely when we are taking donations and what is needed.”

The Hummingbird Project is contactable on Facebook at Hummingbird Project High Peak, and is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday 10-2.

Jo Gregory added, "we are ramping up for our school uniform campaign, we run all year round but over the holidays it is great if we can get as much school uniform in here as possible. We are reorganizing our school uniform area, it is doubling in size. We have primary school and secondary school branded and non-branded uniforms, PE kit, pumps, school bags, coats, anything you could possibly need to go back to school in September, and it was all gifted to us by the community, so it gets regifted back out to the community. Anybody is welcome to come down, you don’t need a referral and you can come from any postcode. If you have things you want to donate in return for school uniforms then that is welcome.

We are open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays 10 -2 so the best thing to do would be to come down during those hours and bring donations with you We get full quite quickly, because people are so good at giving. The response when we do our donation appeal is phenomenal. Unfortunately, we do have to stop donations as we get too full sometimes, so if you get in contact with us you will know absolutely when we are taking donations and what is needed ... So far we have had donations from Dinting, St James, St Lukes, Duke of Norfolk, Glossopdale, Phillip Howard, Padfield, Hollingworth, Simmondley with lots more promised."

The project can be found on Facebook at Hummingbird Project High Peak."