Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has thrown his support behind a new partnership between school uniform charity Uniting Uniforms and Ramsay Health Care UK, set to provide pre-loved school uniforms to families across the region.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, many parents across the Tees Valley are struggling to afford school uniforms. For primary school pupils, the expense can reach over £343 per child, according to the Department for Education.
In response, school uniform charity Uniting Uniforms and Ramsay Health Care UK are joining forces to ease that pressure on local families. Pupils at a range of schools across the Tees Valley will receive carefully selected packs of pre-loved uniforms over the coming months.
Under the partnership, Ramsay Health Care UK employees will volunteer to collect, clean and distribute uniforms – with collection bins hosted across the company’s hospital sites. Tees Valley Hospital will host the first of these bins as part of the pilot – with the partnership set to expand to further Ramsay hospitals.
The Tees Valley launch follows a successful 2025 expansion which saw Uniting Uniforms supply uniforms to five Oasis Academies across England – building on a pilot at Oasis Academy Southbank Primary in September 2024. This latest partnership has been welcomed by the Mayor as a model of practical, locally rooted support for families.
This initiative forms part of Uniting Uniforms’ broader mission to ease financial pressure on families with children in full-time education. By supplying free or low-cost uniforms to those who need them most, the charity aims not only to reduce hardship but also to support better school attendance, confidence, and academic achievement among disadvantaged pupils.
Ben Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley, said: “I am always proud to see businesses in the Tees Valley stepping up for the families and communities they are part of. The cost of school uniforms is a pressure on household budgets right across the region – and this is exactly the kind of practical, local partnership that can make a difference where it counts.
“I want to thank Ramsay Health Care UK and Uniting Uniforms for getting behind families here in the Tees Valley. Every child deserves to start school feeling ready and proud; initiatives like this help make that a reality for more of our young people across the region.”
Nick Costa, Chief Executive Officer at Ramsay Health Care UK, said: “Every parent wants to see their child walk through the school gates ready to learn and proud of how they look. But for too many families in the communities we serve, the cost of uniform is becoming a barrier to that.
“As a major local employer and healthcare provider, we have a responsibility to look beyond our hospital walls to how we support the local community. Partnering with Uniting Uniforms is a way for our team to put their network, time and goodwill behind families in the Tees Valley – and we can’t wait to see the difference it makes.”
Emma Southard, Founder of Uniting Uniforms, said: “Following our success supporting five schools nationwide last year, we’re delighted to expand Uniting Uniforms’ support to families in Tees Valley through this partnership with Ramsay Health Care UK.
“As a charity, we believe no child should ever feel excluded or start school at a disadvantage simply because of the cost of a uniform. Our mission is to ensure every child has access to the uniform they need.
“Ramsay Health Care UK is bringing scale and energy to what we do: their staff, sites and networks mean we can reach families who would otherwise slip through the cracks. We hope every child who receives a pack this year walks into school feeling that little bit more ready for the day ahead.”
