The UK charity Kits4Causes, which uses football as an incentive to change, has just launched a public appeal asking for them to donated unwanted football kits and other equipment, The donations will be collected and then distributed to Kits4Causes partner organisations across the globe who recognise the importance of using football as a tool in the fight for social change.
The appeal was made yesterday on the day the UK transfer window closes, a time when many players move teams thus rendering replica shirts with their names on redundant.
Kits4Causes has appealed for any football kit, regardless of age or size, including all types of shirts (replica, amateur team etc.), football shorts and football socks, as well as equipment including shin pads, boots, bibs and training jackets. Kit can be donated by any football club, supporters club, school, university or workplace and donated by post to the address listed at the Kits4Causes website, www.kits4causes.org.
“Deadline day is always an exciting time for football fans, with plenty of comings and goings from nearly every team. There are bound to be many fans left with a player’s name on the back of their replica shirt that has left the club and let them down.
A Demba Ba Newcastle United shirt maybe, or a Daniel Sturridge Chelsea kit. We’re appealing to those fans to not bury it in the bottom of a drawer for years, but to put it to greater good,” said Chris Grindley, Director of Kits4Causes. “Football is a universally loved game, watched and played by billions all over the world.
We believe that it can be the catalyst for developmental change, regardless of cultural barriers or prejudices that some experience around the world. Football can break them down and provide real and sustained development.”
Formed in 2009 by then-University of Sheffield students, Kits4Causes has since collected over 16,000 football shirts that have been distributed to under-privileged communities in 19 countries across 4 continents. Partner organisations have included The Craig Bellamy Foundation, Kick4Life and Sodje Sports Foundation, among many others.