Second Chance School Uniform Shop

Location

Units 1 and 2
St Peter's Arcade
Bridge Street
Peterborough

The entrance to St Peter's Arcade is located between Argo Lounge and Middletons Steakhouse and Grill.

When the shop is open, we will put out a sign on Bridge Street.

Opening hours

• 7 August 2026, 11am to 3pm
• 13 August 2026, 12pm to 4.30pm
• 21 August 2026, 11am to 3pm
• 28 August 2026, 11am to 3pm
• 10 September 2026, 12pm to 4pm
• 17 September 2026, 12pm to 4pm
• 24 September 2026, 12pm to 4pm
• 29 September 2026, 12pm to 4pm

School uniform items accepted

You can donate items at our shop during opening hours or one of the donation boxes listed below.

We accept:

• Primary and secondary school items for ages 4 to 16 years in different sizes
• Uniform with and without school logos
• Jumpers, sweatshirts, blazers, cardigans, blouses, shirts, tops, polo shirts, trousers, skirts and dresses
• PE kit
• Coats and winter gear such as hats, scarves and gloves
• School bags and lunch boxes
• Prom dresses

Please note we do not accept shoes.

All items donated must be in good condition and be clean / washed.

We welcome donations from families, schools, community groups and retailers. All donations are gratefully received and will help children in need access affordable school uniforms.

Please note there may be a temporary pause of donations if there is a surplus of stock.

Find your nearest donation box

• NatWest Bank, Cathedral Square, Peterborough PE1 1XH
• Funeral Care Eye High Street, Eye, Peterborough, PE6 7UU
• Orton Co-op, 5 Parkway, PE2 5TD
• Yaxley Co-op, Bentley Ave, Yaxley, Peterborough PE7 3ZT
• Co-op Funeralcare, Eye, High Street, Eye, Peterborough, PE6 7UU
• Co-op Funeralcare, Peterborough, 2 Midgate, Peterborough, PE1 1TN
• Co-op Food, Hampton Gardens Co-op, 1 Waterhouse Way, Hampton Gardens, Peterborough, PE7 8SJ

We also have donation boxes in 50 secondary and primary schools across the city. If your school currently doesn't have a donation box and would like to order one, please email recycling@peterborough.gov.uk. 

Upcoming pop-up events

We have listened to your feedback and arranged another pop-up event. This will give you more opportunities to donate, swap or pick up school uniform items.

• Dogsthorpe 80th Anniversary Event - Millennium Green, Woodfield Park, Dogsthorpe - Saturday 5 September 2026, 12pm to 5pm

Please keep an eye on this page for more events and updates, or follow us on social media.

Second Chance Uniform Shop Co-op Members Reward Card

Collect a stamp each time you donate, swap or take school uniform items to earn a gift from 'Our Co-op' and 'Co-op Group'.

The Second Chance Uniform Shop Co‑op Members Reward Card is available exclusively at the Second Chance School Uniform Shop located in St Peter's Arcade.

How the Co‑op reward card works:

Visitors will receive a reward card when taking part in the scheme at the Second Chance Uniform Shop. Each time you donate or swap items or take part in reuse activities, you will receive a stamp on your reward card.

Please note: only Second Chance Uniform Shop staff can issue stamps.

Once you have collected 7 stamps, you can redeem incentives such as bags or products. Rewards may vary depending on availability at the time you visit.

Together, we’re helping local families, reducing textile waste, and making a positive difference for people and the planet.

How the idea came about and the partners involved

The Second Chance School Uniform Shop is a community collaborative initiative run by Peterborough City Council, Central Co-op and Co-op Group.

The initial project came about following the idea in former Youth MP Danielle Daboh’s manifesto, which concentrated on the high costs of school uniform. This is combined with the message of sustainability and protecting the environment from our Recycling Education Team with their experience at Swish events, supported by our Education and Communities teams.

In July 2025, our Recycling Education Team hosted a one-day school uniform swap event at Queensgate Shopping Centre. It proved so successful that the decision was made to open a full-time shop. The Second Chance School Uniform Shop officially opened at Roots and Rise in Queensgate in November 2025, before relocating to St Peter’s Arcade in August 2026.

Thank you to Co-op for their support with funding the original shop set-up.

How donating unwanted school uniform helps the environment

Donating and swapping school uniform helps the environment. Textile pollution in the UK involves significant amounts of waste sent to landfill or incineration. According to WRAP, an estimated 711,000 tonnes of post-consumer textiles is discarded in general waste annually. This waste generates greenhouse gases and contaminates soil and water with microplastics and chemicals. A large portion of the UK's textile waste is also exported to other countries.

If you want to know about how to reduce, reuse, recycle or correctly dispose of unwanted clothes, bedding, towels etc, visit our clothes and textile waste page for more ideas.

Recipient of a Bronze Local Government Chronicle Award

The Second Chance School Uniform Shop received the Bronze award in the Environmental Services category at the 2026 Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.

The national recognition spotlights the incredible impact of the partners involved in the shop. By giving pre-loved school uniforms a second life, the initiative not only provided vital cost-of-living support to local families, but also diverted significant textile waste from landfill.

This award highlights the power of community-focused environmental projects and reinforces Peterborough's commitment to building a sustainable, circular economy.

Contact our Recycling Team

Please contact our Recycling Education Team at recycling@peterborough.gov.uk for any enquiries about:

• The shop, pop-up events and finding specific items
• Donating large quantities of stock
• Setting up a donation point at your business or education or community setting

Please note the inbox is only monitored during office hours.