easyJet donates old uniforms to help struggling Luton families

Jay, aged 12, Yusuf, aged 14, Mercedes, aged 14, Andrei, aged 14, and Jack, aged 12, from Lea Manor school in Luton, with uniforms donated by easyJet at London Luton Airport, as part of the airline’s new uniform donation initiative. Photo by: David Parry/PA Media Assignments

easyJet is donating thousands of retired crew uniforms to Luton families struggling with the rising cost of school clothing, in a new partnership with local charity Level Trust.

The Luton-based airline, whose headquarters are at Luton Airport, is refreshing its cabin crew uniforms and has pledged to recycle or donate 100 per cent of old garments. A significant portion will go to Level Trust, which supports children in poverty through its Uniform Exchange programme across 75 Luton schools.

The move comes amid mounting financial pressure on families, with new research commissioned by easyJet revealing that 58 per cent of British households are struggling to afford school uniforms. Over a third of parents said they have had to cut back on essentials to pay for new clothes, while one in five has resorted to overdrafts or credit cards.

Level Trust estimates that 45 per cent of children in Luton live in poverty, and says demand for pre-loved uniforms continues to grow each school term. Parents typically spend an average of £255 a year per child on uniforms, with over half needing to replace items before the end of the first term.

easyJet made its first donation during the October half-term period, helping the charity manage the seasonal spike in demand. The company says the garments — including shirts, skirts, blazers and trousers — will be de-tagged, cleaned and adapted to meet school uniform standards before being distributed locally.

Michael Brown, easyJet’s Director of Cabin Services, said: “We’re proud to launch our uniform recycling programme. Our aim for this first phase is both to support parents who are facing financial hardships as well as reduce our textile waste. Our crew uniforms have always represented care, professionalism and unity, and we’re honoured that they’ll carry those same values into classrooms to empower the next generation.”

Jennie White from Level Trust said: “We have seen a significant rise in requests for school uniforms, highlighting the challenges many families are facing. easyJet’s donation of surplus uniforms is a crucial step in addressing these needs as this initiative not only helps alleviate the financial strain on parents but also ensures that children have the necessary attire to feel confident and focused at school.”