**Help 10 Local Children Start School with Confidence**
Every September, children across Manchester get ready to return to school. For many, this is an exciting time filled with new opportunities, fresh uniforms, and new stationery. But for far too many families in our community, this time of year brings stress, worry, and financial hardship.
Did you know that 43.6% of children in Manchester live in relative poverty?
That’s nearly 13 out of every 30 pupils who may not have the basics they need for school. Manchester now has one of the highest child poverty rates in the UK, with 44.7% of children living below the poverty line. For these families, the cost of sending a child to secondary school—estimated at over £2,300 per year—is simply unmanageable.
When a child arrives at school without a proper bag, stationery, or a PE kit, it’s not just about missing equipment. It’s about feeling different, excluded, and disadvantaged before they’ve even opened a book. Lack of essentials can impact attendance, confidence, and a child’s ability to learn and thrive.
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**Our Mission**
This year, we at Manchester HATS Group want to step in and make a difference. We’re raising funds to support a minimum of 10 local schoolchildren by providing them with the essentials they need to return to school with confidence:
* A sturdy school bag
* Full stationery sets (pens, pencils, rulers, calculators)
* PE kit essentials (T-shirts, shorts, PE bag)
* Basic uniform items where possible
Each child deserves to start school ready to learn, not worried about what they don’t have.
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**How Your Donation Helps**
* **£25** can provide a complete stationery kit.
* **£50–£100** can cover a uniform bundle including PE kit essentials.
* **£100+** can supply a child with a full school bag, stationery, and PE kit.
No matter the size, every donation will go directly towards equipping children in need.
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**Why This Matters**
Without proper kit, children are left vulnerable to bullying, exclusion, and missed opportunities. But with your help, we can level the playing field and give them the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
Imagine the difference: instead of walking into school feeling left out, these children will walk in prepared, proud, and ready to learn.
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**Join Us**
We’re asking for your support to raise enough to help at least 10 children this September. Together, we can take away some of the burden from struggling families and give children the fresh start they deserve.
Please donate if you can, and share this campaign to help us reach more people. Let’s work together to ensure that no child in Manchester has to start school without the basics.
Thank you for being part of this journey.