New campaign offers relief for school uniform lay-bys

Parents and caregivers battling to settle their children’s school uniform lay-bys now have a new source of support.

The Fundi Foundation has launched its inaugural “Bring a Little Joy” campaign, offering up to R1 000 in relief towards qualifying school uniform lay-bys at PEP, Jet and Ackermans stores nationwide.

Applications for assistance are now open, with families and individuals encouraged to apply to help ensure their children step into the school year with confidence.

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Although the 2026 academic year is already underway, many households continue to feel the financial strain of back-to-school expenses.

“Going back to school is extremely stressful for most parents. Eighty per cent of parents have shared that these costs set them back financially, with uniforms and fees cited as the most expensive items by 62% of families.

“As an example, the average cost for a Grade 8 learner now exceeds R5 000, with uniform essentials accounting for over R2 700 of this amount, an eight per cent increase year-on-year, more than double the national inflation rate,” said Fundi Foundation spokesperson Sphiwe Masuku.

“While lay-bys are meant to ease the financial burden, for too many families, they become yet another source of stress when money is tight.

“Through our ‘Bring a Little Joy’ campaign, we want to step in and help parents who are doing everything they can to ensure their children have the uniforms they need to start the school year with confidence.

“If you have a school uniform lay-by and are struggling to settle it, we encourage you to apply.”

Application criteria

• Parents and caregivers may qualify for up to R1 000 in lay-by relief, provided that:
• At least 70% of the lay-by items are school uniforms purchased at PEP, Jet or Ackermans;
• The lay-by was opened at least 30 days ago;
• The lay-by is not older than six months at the time of review.

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Where terms and conditions are met and the application is approved, the Fundi Foundation will pay the relief amount directly to the store where the lay-by is held.

The application process is straightforward.

Parents and caregivers must submit a clear photograph of their lay-by receipt along with a short motivation explaining why support is needed.

Applications should be emailed to fund@fundi.co.za. Successful applicants will be notified by the foundation.

“Uniforms are more than just clothing, they represent courage, pride and possibility for our children. We know that parents work incredibly hard to give their children the best start to the school year and we want to support that.

“The Fundi Foundation has put R30 000 on the table to assist qualifying families, and we want to ensure this reaches those who need it most. If you need a little help with your existing school uniform lay-by, please do not hesitate to apply. A little joy goes a long way,” Masuku added.

Members of the public who wish to contribute to the “Bring a Little Joy” campaign can donate online via the Fundi Foundation website.

All funds raised will go directly towards settling qualifying school uniform lay-bys at PEP, Jet and Ackermans stores nationwide.

Full campaign details, donation options and terms and conditions are available on the foundation’s website.