The placement uniform swap shop

Description

The Placement Uniform Swap Shop takes place every Wednesday between 12:00 and 14:00 in The Students’ Union at Glenside. This ongoing event is designed to support healthcare students by offering a more budget-friendly and environmentally conscious way to access placement uniforms.

At The Students’ Union, we recognise how expensive placements can be. Between the cost of uniforms, parking, accommodation, and enough coffee to get through long shifts, it can all add up quickly. The Placement Uniform Swap Shop aims to ease some of these financial pressures by providing a space where students can donate, swap, or collect uniforms free of charge, while also promoting sustainability through reuse.

If you have completed your course and wish to donate your pre-loved placement uniforms, you can drop them off at The Students’ Union Office at Glenside between 09:30 and 16:00, Monday to Friday. We accept all sizes, styles, and conditions, though we kindly ask that items are washed before being donated. Students who wish to exchange their uniforms can attend any of the weekly Swap Shop sessions to find items that fit them better or are more comfortable.

If you do not have an item to swap, you are still welcome to attend. Whether your uniform has not arrived in time for your placement or you are struggling to keep up with laundry between shifts, we may be able to help on a case-by-case basis. The success of this scheme relies on donations, so we encourage all students to spread the word to classmates, friends, and lecturers – the more donations we receive, the more Swap Shops we can run.

Please note that The Students’ Union is a separate organisation from UWE Bristol and is not responsible for providing new uniforms or placement information. If you need to purchase new or replacement UWE-branded placement uniforms, please contact infopoint@uwe.ac.uk, who can provide details for ordering directly from Alexandra Workwear. Your first set of uniforms from Alexandra Workwear will be provided free of charge, with payment only required for additional items.

For placement-related queries, please speak with your Placement Coordinator. Contact details for professional placements at UWE Bristol can be found on the university website. As the Swap Shop operates solely through donations, we cannot guarantee that all sizes will always be available, so we recommend not relying entirely on this service for your uniform needs.

If you are struggling with the costs associated with placement, financial support is available through UWE Bristol’s Student Money Service and The Students’ Union Advice Centre. For any other questions about the Placement Uniform Swap Shop, please contact SUCommunity@uwe.ac.uk.