FreeSchoolClothes.com started with a single box outside a family home in Cardiff. Today, we are a volunteer-run community initiative helping schools and families across the UK to redistribute outgrown school gear and other essentials — for free.
A local way to share, support, and save.
FreeSchoolClothes.com started with a single box outside a family home in Cardiff. Today, we are a volunteer-run community initiative helping schools and families across the UK to redistribute outgrown school gear and other essentials — for free.
From sorting jumpers at home to supporting families across Wales and the UK.
It all started with a simple, late-night idea in 2022. During the peak of the cost-of-living crisis, our founder, Jon Evans, wanted to do something practical for his local school community at Ysgol Treganna in Cardiff. Armed with a big bag and plenty of enthusiasm, Jon headed to the school to collect outgrown uniforms. He came home empty-handed. But a simple suggestion from his wife, Shân, changed everything: "Why don't we just put a box outside the house?"
Within just six months, together with the generosity of local families, that single box near Victoria Park in Cardiff transformed the Evans' family living room into a bustling hub of community kindness.
As thousands more items began to fill their home, Jon realised the potential was far bigger than just one school. He spent late nights and weekends building FreeSchoolClothes.com, a digital platform designed to make redistribution easy, secure, and accessible for every family in the UK.
School uniforms shouldn't cost the Earth. Our mission is built on three pillars:
What started as a family project is now scaling across the UK. Whether you are clearing out outgrown clothes or looking for the next size up, you are part of a community that's saving "pocket and planet."
It all started with a simple, late-night idea in 2022. During the peak of the cost-of-living crisis, our founder, Jon Evans — together with his wife Shân and their boys Tom and Siôn — wanted to do something practical for his local school community at Ysgol Treganna in Cardiff.
The first attempt didn't go well. Jon walked to the school with a big bag on a Friday afternoon to collect donations. Nobody turned up. Tail between legs, he walked home empty-handed.
A simple suggestion from Shân changed everything: "Why don't we just put a box outside the house?" Things changed.
In the years since — with a wider group of parent volunteers and more boxes outside more family homes — the initiative has redistributed thousands of items within the school community. Seeing the demand growing, Jon researched options, got quotes from developers, and over Christmas decided to build it himself.
Many late nights, weekends and cups of tea later, FreeSchoolClothes.com was ready — a digital platform designed to make redistribution easy, secure, and accessible for every family in the UK. Originally developed at Ysgol Treganna, it is now ready to extend the benefits across Wales — and every UK school.
"Do something practical to support the local community. That was the whole idea. It still is."
Sources: UK Government school census · pilot data from Ysgol Treganna · carbonfact.com for car-equivalent calculation
What started as a family project is now scaling across the UK. Register, list, browse, tell a friend. Every item shared is a small win for a family — and a small win for the planet too.
Join the community