Uptake has been phenomenal

More than 145,000 children across Scotland will benefit from increased cash grants to help cover the cost of school uniforms.

Figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) show grants totalling £11.8m will help hard-up families kit their children out for the new school term.

Increased payments mean eligible families will receive £120 for each child at primary school and £150 for youngsters attending secondary school.

A total of 145,080 children across Scotland are expected to benefit, according to Spice.

SNP MSP Natalie Don said the school clothing grant helps families buy clothes, shoes and other necessary equipment.

She added: “Meeting the costs of buying school clothes can be very challenging for thousands of families and the SNP Scottish Government has increased the school clothing grant to ensure every child in Scotland doesn’t miss out.”

Last year John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group director in Scotland, said the grants were a good way of "getting additional support direct to families.

The Gate charity (pictured), which runs a uniform bank, took over Alloa Town Hall in Clackmannanshire to ensure safe distancing for their volunteers and clients during the lockdown.

They have seen demand steadily increase, and have supplied hundreds of families with items this year.

They said the service was needed more than ever because of the coronavirus pandemic.