Clothing Costs – Financial Help

By Alex Soltau

10/08/2023

You might be eligible to receive financial aid for your child’s school clothing and footwear. This form of assistance is referred to as a ‘school clothing grant’ and you can apply at your local council.

Typically, it’s a monetary subsidy that is directly deposited into your bank account.

Eligibility and the specific amount of funding you’ll receive depend on your local council. Everyone receiving a school clothing grant is entitled to a minimum of:

£120 for each child attending primary school
£150 for each child attending secondary school

You might also be able to apply for free school meals simultaneously with your clothing grant application.

The Application Process

To acquire the grant, you need to submit an application to your local council.

Please visit your local council’s website (LINK BELOW) to determine the application period for the grant, however, most councils accept applications from July until the end of March.

Payment Timing

A single school clothing grant payment is disbursed each year.

Typically, councils process most payments in July or August, just before the commencement of the new school year. However, this timeline can differ based on the specific council.

For additional inquiries about school clothing grants, including payment-related questions, you should reach out to your local council. Contact your local council for more information and application procedures via their website.

School Age Payment

You may also be eligible to claim a School Age Payment under the Best Start Grant.

This payment amounting to £294.70 can assist with the expenses associated with a child starting primary year 1.

Visit Your Council’s Page

Council	Apply For Grant Link
Aberdeen City Council	https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/school-life/apply-free-school-meals-and-school-clothing-grant
Aberdeenshrie Council	https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/school-info/assistance/school-clothing-grants/
Angus Council	https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/free_school_meals_and_school_clothing_grants
Argyll and Bute Council	https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/benefits-and-grants/free-school-meals-and-clothing-grant
City of Edinburgh Council	https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/food-clothing/free-school-meals-school-clothing-grants
Clackmannanshire Council	https://www.clacks.gov.uk/learning/schoolclothinggrants/
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	https://forms.cne-siar.gov.uk/form/auto/vof_ecs_grants?dform_title=Free%20School%20Meals%20/%20Clothing%20Grant%20Application%20Form
Dumfries and Galloway Council	https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9h0uvVqNZ0imR0h8KnQC3gpmP6J95M5BhR46n0_QitxUMFBaRExTUUhSUVVGT1ZSOVVMTVg5M1lISiQlQCN0PWcu
Dundee City Council	https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/children-and-families-service/school-clothing-grants
East Ayrshire	https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndGovernment/Benefits/Benefits-EducationAndSchool/Clothing-grants-and-free-school-meals/Clothing-grants-and-free-school-meals.aspx
East Dunbarton	https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-learning/grants/school-clothing-grant
East Lothian	https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/news/article/13212/free_school_meals_and_clothing_grants
East Renfrewshire Council	https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/free-school-meals
Falkirk Council	https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/schools-education/education-benefits-support/free-school-meals-clothing-grants/
Fife Council	https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/education2/schools-in-fife/free-school-meals-and-school-clothing-grants
Glasgow City Council	https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17885
Highland Council	https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/899/schools-grants_and_benefits/10/free_school_meals_and_assistance_with_clothing
Inverclyde Council	https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/clothing-grant-and-free-school-meals
Midlothian Council	https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/899/financial_support/117/free_school_meals_and_clothing_grants
Moray Council	http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_55486.html
North Ayrshire Council	https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/grants-and-allowances/footwear-clothing-and-free-school-meals.aspx
North Lanarkshire Council	https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-meals/free-school-meals-and-clothing-grants
Orkney Islands Council	https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Meals-and-Clothing-Allowances.htm
Perth and Kinross Council	https://www.pkc.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
Renfrewshire Council	https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/3338/Free-school-meals-and-clothing-grants
Scottish Borders Council	https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/fsm
Shetland Islands Council	https://www.shetland.gov.uk/support-pupils/ema-bursaries-financial-support/3
South Ayrshire Council	https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/article/59803/Free-school-meals-and-clothing-grant-application-23-24
South Lanarkshire Council	https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/forms/form/306/en/clothing_grant_and_free_school_meals_application
Stirling Council	https://www.stirling.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/free-school-meals-and-clothing-grant/
West Dunbartonshire Council	https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-and-educational-grants/free-school-meals-and-clothing-grant/
West Lothian Council	https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/mealsandclothing