Charity shops help with school essentials

Cash-strapped parents are being forced to turn to charity shops to cover the costs of their children’s back-to-school essentials.

With the start of the new school year just weeks away, charities say they have noted a sharp rise in the numbers of customers looking to purchase cut-price uniforms and books.

Theresa McCoy, from the Jack and Jill outlet in Arklow, Co Wicklow, said: “Many parents are looking since June. We’ve noticed a surge in the number of enquiries since then. Anything we get in we put out straight away on our uniform rail and it is snapped up.