A FORMER Halesowen councillor is helping parents meet the costs of schooling by setting up a 'uniform swap'.

Ex-Labour councillor Donella Russell ran a uniform exchange last year in the town last year and helped 50 families.

She's holding it again this year. It starts next Tuesday (August 2).

It will be running from the former Shoe Zone Shop in the Cornbow Shopping Centre and will be open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9.30am till 12.30pm for the whole of the month.

The uniform swap is open to all schools in Halesowen and Cradley and is accepting donations.

Donella said: "I started the swap last year when I wanted to do something useful with my son's uniform when he finished school.

"We helped over 50 families.

"We not only helped people that needed school uniform, we also helped reduce the amount of uniform that went into landfill.

"With the cost of living rising, I do believe that this year we are needed more than ever and we are hoping to help families than we did last year."

If anyone has any uniform to donate for the exchange it can be dropped off when the shop is open or at the Halesowen BID office in the former Hobbs building on Somers Square in Halesowen town centre.