Due to its success, the campaign will be running again this summer.
North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has been recognised for its School Uniform Swap Shop Campaign that saved three tonnes of school uniform from landfill.
The swap shop is a sustainable way for families to access school uniforms.
Families with outgrown uniforms that are no longer needed can donate them to the swap shop and other families can then take these for free.
NWLDC were crowned winners of the Reuse Initiative of the Year in the 2024 Award for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.
Councillor Michael Wyatt, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services at NWLDC, said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported the School Uniform Swap Shop, it’s brilliant to receive national recognition for such an impactful campaign.
“As a council, we have a net zero carbon ambition, and this popular campaign helps support the reuse of school uniform.
“We understand how expensive it can be each year for parents to buy new school uniform which is why we are choosing to run the School Uniform Swap Shop again this year."
Food Poverty Officer Helen Crouch, the officer that ran the campaign at NWLDC, said: “This is a huge achievement, not only for us at NWLDC but for the people and families that donated the uniform and racks and all the venues in the district that kindly allowed us to use their space.
“We will be doing it again this year due to its success and large amount of positive feedback we received from it.
“It is important for the School Uniform Swap Shop to become sustainable, I hope it becomes a yearly campaign that we can continue and I urge any council to get in contact and run this in their area.”