Reading among biggest donors to charity
KitAid, a charity which distributes old sporting kit to sports projects in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, recently celebrated its' one millionth piece of kit donated.
Reading FC has been a leading supporter of the charity since it was started 25 years ago, donating thousands of items of old kit sent to inspire and encourage boys and girls football across the developing world.
KitAid receives support from across the full football pyramid, from the English FA and leading Premier League clubs to non-league and grassroots teams. It also supports other sports such as netball, athletics and golf by providing clothing and equipment.
Despite receiving no grants itself, KitAid manages to fund football related projects in Malawi, Uganda and Belfast.
England manager Gareth Southgate presented an England shirt to mark the one millionth piece of kit donated to the KitAid Charity, with the presentation made at St George’s Park ahead of the England match against Ukraine.
KitAid is a 100 percent volunteer-run charity founded in 1998 following a visit to Tanzania by Derrick Williams MBE, where he spotted a young boy wearing a ragged Liverpool FC shirt.
On his return, he showed a photo to friends and they decided to fill a box with kit to send to the boy’s village of Ntalikwa in Tanzania.
It received such a good reaction, they decided to widen the collection and twenty-five years on, the charity has over 100 volunteers and has sent over 28,500 boxes of kit donated by clubs and organisations across the UK.
Derrick Williams MBE. said: “I am delighted that KitAid has reached the major milestone of donating one million items of kit, in our 25th Anniversary year.
"It has been a tremendous effort by all of our volunteers and we could not have achieved this without the help of hundreds of clubs such as Reading supporting our work. Every item of kit makes a difference, enables someone to participate in sport and brings a smile to their day.”
“On behalf of us all at the Football Association, we congratulate KitAid in reaching your 25th Anniversary as well as the remarkable achievement of donating 1,000,000 pieces of kit to countries around the world, where it is greatly needed,” said Debbie Hewitt, MBE, Chair of the Football Association.
“Over the years, KitAid has helped the FA to make sure that our redundant England kit is sorted, packaged and distributed and your hard work and dedication is an inspiration to us.
"We are proud to be associated with you and send our very best wishes and gratitude to your volunteers and supporters for the truly great work that you do.”
