Thank you for visiting and supporting The Cowshed.
Scroll down to follow our fundraising journey, see our latest updates and, if you've sponsored us, we'd love you to leave a message, photo or video of encouragement.
We're taking part in the Cash for Kids Community Challenge, where the group that raises the most will receive an additional £4,000 in funding. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to that goal and helps us support even more local families.
Why We're Fundraising
Since opening our doors, The Cowshed has supported more than 40,000 people across Berkshire. We help families fleeing domestic abuse, people experiencing homelessness, refugees, and parents struggling to provide the everyday essentials their children need.
We supply good-quality clothing, shoes, bedding, toiletries, baby equipment and other essential items completely free of charge, restoring dignity and hope to people during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
But The Cowshed is about more than practical support. Through our outreach projects, we help build confidence, reduce isolation and strengthen our community. We also provide school uniforms, Back to School backpacks, children's books and other essentials that help children thrive.
Our Goal
This campaign will help us provide school uniforms, underwear, socks and tights to children whose families simply cannot afford them.
For many families, buying a school uniform means making impossible choices.
According to The Children's Society, the average cost of a school uniform is now £422 for secondary school pupils and £287 for primary school pupils. More than half of parents have cut back on essentials such as food or heating to afford school clothing, while some children have even been sent home because they were not wearing the correct uniform.
A properly fitting school uniform is about far more than clothing. It helps children feel confident, included and ready to learn. Without it, children can face embarrassment, social exclusion and barriers to achieving their full potential.
Across Berkshire, thousands of families are struggling. In Reading, around one in six children lives below the poverty line, rising to more than 30% in some communities. Even in areas with higher average incomes, rising housing and living costs mean many working families are only one unexpected expense away from crisis.
Your support will help ensure that children can start the school day with confidence, dignity and the same opportunities as their classmates.
Together, we can give every child the chance to belong, succeed and look forward to their future.
Thank you for helping us make a lasting difference.