Little Stars launches Wear Stars 4 Little Stars Week 2026

For many families across Shropshire, the cost of school uniform, which can reach up to £289 for a secondary school pupil, can place real financial pressure. 

One parent told Little Stars: "I had to choose between feeding my children and buying school uniform… I chose to feed them." 

This is why Little Stars is inviting schools, businesses, and communities across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin to take part in its annual fundraising campaign: Wear Stars 4 Little Stars Week, running from 22nd to 28th June 2026.

The week-long initiative will raise funds for Little Stars’ Cool for School Campaign, helping to provide local children with essential school uniform items so they can return to school feeling smart, prepared, and ready to learn. As Little Stars now has their own dedicated site, they are expanding this service for the first-time to enable families to self-refer for school uniform. Families can self-refer directly.

Since launching in 2023, the Cool for School Campaign has supported over 905 children across Shropshire with uniform essentials- yet demand continues to grow. A 2024 Department for Education survey found that 18% of children whose families faced financial hardship due to uniform costs had been sent home from school for not wearing the correct uniform. Little Stars is determined to help change that.

While Little Stars gratefully receives donations of pre-loved uniforms, stock doesn't always stretch to every size or item a child needs. Last year, a £1,000 grant from The High Sheriff's Fund 2025, administered by Shropshire Community Foundation, helped bridge that gap, enabling Little Stars to provide additional supplies for secondary school pupils including school bags, shirts and toiletries. This year, funds raised during Wear Stars 4 Little Stars Week will help ensure the charity's youngest pupils are equally well supported.

Last year, twelve businesses and schools took part alongside many individual donors across the county, and this year Little Stars is hoping to build on that momentum and reach even more of the community.

Participating is simple, wear stars or pyjamas on any day during the week commencing 22nd June, donate £1 or more, and share a photo on social media using #WearStars4LittleStars. But for those who want to go further, there are many creative ways to get involved: from bake sales and pub quizzes to businesses competing in a Best Dressed Team challenge on Friday 26th June.

"We see every day the difference it makes when a child has the right school uniform and essentials. It's not just about clothing; it's about confidence, belonging, and giving children the best possible start to their school day. Wear Stars 4 Little Stars Week is a simple but powerful way for our community to come together, and the creativity people bring to it never fails to inspire us." Chantal, Fundraising Coordinator, Little Stars

Little Stars is encouraging schools, businesses, and community groups across the county to get involved and help support children in need.

To download a fundraising pack and find out more, visit littlestarscharity.org or contact the team at events@littlestarscharity.org.