Clothing Grant

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Education, Sport and Children’s Services Committee is recommending an increase in the family income threshold for Clothing Grant applications from £16,105 to £20,000.

It is estimated that this will increase the uptake of clothing grants by 20% and help around 100 additional families with the cost of providing uniforms for their children.

The Comhairle provides a clothing grant for pupils, as long as they have attained the statutory age for school entry, are ordinarily resident in the Western Isles and have enrolled in a school in the Western Isles.

Chair Angus McCormack said: "It is important that we maximise the assistance available for families on lower incomes and by increasing the threshold there will be an estimated 100 additional families that will qualify for a clothing grant."

The increase can be accommodated within current budgetary provision.