Community Activities
Football fanatics in Salisbury are being asked to Pitch In! and donate their unwanted football shirts to help support the education of disadvantaged children around the world.
Launched by Chris White Funeral Directors, the Pitch In! appeal is asking local residents to delve into their drawers, find old football kit they no longer need and bring it to its Endless Street branch. Once collated, the Chris White team will give the football tops to leading UK charity Kits4Causes, an organisation which aims to help as many education projects around the world as possible to achieve their goals through the use of football and donated football kits.
Since its launch, Kits4Causes has worked with over 50 international aid organisations in 26 different countries, distributing UK-donated football kits to 27,000 people worldwide. Believing that a shared passion for football enables communities with different social and cultural ideals to come together, the charity uses this vision to help deliver education projects in some of the poorest nations on earth. This has included diverting young people in Africa away from alcohol and drugs, reconciling warring communities in both South Sudan and northern Nigeria, and helping to break down the stigma of HIV/AIDs in a number of countries around the world.
“When we were told about the work Kits4Causes gets involved in, we were staggered to learn how much good can be achieved with an unwanted football shirt,” said Tee Trevis, funeral arranger at Chris White. “Many of us take for granted that we can pull on the top of our favourite team or the club we play for and pop to the park for a kickabout, but for children in developing countries that’s something they may never get to experience.”
As well as individuals, local football teams, schools, youth clubs and even professional football clubs can get involved in the initiative and donate their unwanted kit to the appeal. Other related items such as shorts, socks and accessories including shin pads and football boots will also be welcomed by the charity.
“Given that the World Cup is just around the corner and Salisbury is a town full of football fans and football clubs, we thought we would challenge local residents to Pitch In! and see how many football shirts we can collect,” continued Tee. “The majority of us have old kits lying around at home or work that we no longer need, so we are hoping that local people will get behind our team and help us reach our goal!” Donating unwanted kit to the appeal could not be simpler. Those wishing to make a contribution are asked to check that the items are clean and in good condition, before putting them into a bag and dropping it off at the Chris White branch on Endless Street.
“With the current season coming to an end, we know that many football fans will be eagerly awaiting their team’s next shirt,” said Chris Grindley, director of Kits4Causes. “Rather than leave their old kit at the back of the cupboard, we are hoping that the residents of Salisbury will pop down to the Chris White branch and donate it to the appeal. Doing so is simple, but it will help us make a huge difference to the lives of football-loving young people around the world.”
Local residents looking for further information about the Pitch In! appeal can visit the branch at 15 Endless Street, Salisbury, SP1 1DP and speak to a member of the team, call 01722 744 691