Industry charity GroceryAid has announced the return of its School Essentials Grant, funded by The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, with £1 million available to help grocery colleagues with the cost of sending their children back to school.
Now in its sixth year, the non-repayable grant offers £150 per school-age child, for up to three children per household, towards essentials such as uniforms, school shoes, PE kits, stationery and backpacks.
Applications open at 9am on Tuesday 2 June and close at 5pm on Thursday 4June 2026. With just a three-day application window, GroceryAid is calling on retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers and the wider industry to spread the word among teams in-store, in depots and across head offices, so eligible colleague don’t miss out.
The grant is open to those working across the breadth of the UK grocery industry, including supermarkets, wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers, convenience stores, independent retailers and forecourts to the sector. Successful applicants will be selected at random from those meeting the eligibility criteria.
“The back-to-school period is one of the most expensive times of the year for families, and we know many grocery colleagues feel the strain," said GroceryAid CEO Kieran Hemsworth. "Thanks to the continued support of The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, we’re able to put £1 million directly into the hands of those who need it most, giving children across our industry a confident start to the new school year.
“The application window is short, so we’re asking colleagues across the sector to help us reach as many eligible families as possible. Share the details with your teams, put posters up in your stores and depots, and encourage anyone who might qualify to prepare their application ahead of 2 June. You can download our awareness toolkit at: groceryaid.org.uk/get-involved/marketing-materials/.
“If colleagues aren’t successful with their School Essentials Grant application, they may still be eligible for another financial grant from GroceryAid to provide relief in tough times. It’s always worth encouraging colleagues to apply if they need help – there’s absolutely no cost involved, so there’s nothing to lose.”
“Wider support is also available for the family such as family counselling and counselling for children and young people, all completely free and confidential.”
The School Essentials Grant is fully funded by The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, which provides financial support to grocers, pharmacists, commercial travellers and their families. Last year alone, GroceryAid provided more than £4.6m in financial grants to grocery workers across the industry.
For full eligibility criteria and to apply, visit groceryaid.org.uk/finances/school-essentials-grant.