How Kits4Causes can turn your old football shirt into a precious commodity

Though they are often trips of a lifetime, it is not unusual for people in their late teens or early twenties to go travelling and visit places like Australia, South East Asia or Africa. Last month, former University of Sheffield student Chris Grindley packed his bags and set off for Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. But Chris did not become one of the many young people hoping to make a difference to the poverty-stricken lives of young Zimbabweans. He had already made a difference. His trip to Southern Africa confirmed to him just how significant that difference was - and continues to be.

Chris, along with other former Sheffield students Andrew Trott and Elliott Bryan, runs a charity by the name of Kits4Causes . The charity was founded by five students in Sheffield in 2009 as Afrikit and the Sheffield connection remains key in the charity's future, with the University being a major point of contact for those who run it.

Chris was not one of the founders, but became involved in the summer of 2011. He graduated with a degree in politics in July and, upon leaving university, began to juggle four jobs - one of which was stepping up his role of running Kits4Causes.

The power of sport

The charity's aim is very simple: collect people's old and unwanted football shirts and equipment and, through partner charities, send them to good causes around the world. Donations often come from parents whose children have grown out of shirst or from fans whose favourite player has moved to a rival (Fernando Torres and Robin van Persie are common names on the back of donated shirts, for example). From then on, the work is done by the power of football and sport. The kits are used by other, less specialist, charities who request the kit from Kits4Causes to help them in using football to break down barriers between communities, as an educational tool, in helping to break down the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and, simply, to put a smile on the faces of thousands of disadvantaged people.

The charity's website quotes Nelson Mandela's famous line of "sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can." It is a powerful sentiment that Kits4Causes has been keen to express ever since its original incarnation as Afrikit three years ago. Even more powerful, is the idea that such a simple act as giving an old, unwanted football shirt - which so many people own - can help. In a big way.

Chris explains: "Half the time I was there, we didn't have any running water or electricity - it was just out. It put everything into perspective of how comfortable life is for most people in the UK.

"A football kit, which you can just forget about in your cupboard because it doesn't mean anything to you, can mean the absolute world to somebody that has nothing. It really hit home how important the work of charities is."

Chris noted that while the UK economy is struggling, the problems are virtually non-existent in comparison to those he witnessed in Bulawayo: "Speaking to some people in Zimbabwe, there's a major problem with boredom. Kids will leave school and they have got nothing to do. In the UK, although times are tough, if you really want a job, you can get one of some kind. In Zimbabwe there are no jobs. I met people who were 23-24, who had been out of education since they were 16 and never been able to find a job, because when a job does become available, there will be thousands of people apply for that one job."

While in Zimbabwe, Chris met with numerous local dignitaries and Zimbabwean football legends, including - in a continuation of the South Yorkshire connection - former Sheffield United winger Peter Ndlovu. He also met with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) , and agreed to kit out every one of the 2,500 young people playing in the youth football leagues of Bulawayo.

Partner Charities

By no means is Kits4Causes unique in being a charity aiming to improve the lives of people through the power of football. But the specialist work that Kits4Causes do is rather different to charities like the Thimbalethu Soccer Academy , who Chris visited Zimbabwe with. Nevertheless, Kits4Causes' work marries brilliantly with that of their partner charities in that it provides the simplest of tangible objects (in the form of football kits and equipment) to go alongside the intangible and immeasurable effects of joy, better health, better education and, ultimately, hopefully, peace.

"When you see the work that charities like Thembalethu do, and how they need an organisation like Kits4Causes to help facilitate what they're trying to do and give them what, to them, is such a precious commodity of a football kit for free, it really hit home how important it is to carry on with Kits4Causes and make it very successful."

And what about the Nelson Mandela quote? Did Chris agree that sport could really be that powerful? "Before I went there, I believed it, but I'm not sure why I believed it," Chris admitted, "but to actually go there, it really hit me to think, 'wow it does make a difference!'" It is for sure that Chris' voice would be echoed by the 15,000 plus people who have benefitted from Kits4Causes work so far.

To see what happens to your shirt, from being an unwanted item in the darkest depths of your wardrobe to being an invaluable force in another part of the world, view the audio slideshow at the top of this page.

For information about Kits4Causes, visit their website at www.kits4causes.org

by Stuart Hill

Christmas fayre raises funds for animal rescue

The 8th annual fayre was held at the RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Sheffield Animal Centre on Saturday morning to allow people to enjoy shopping while funding local animals’ aid. 

This year’s Christmas Fayre had the largest number of stalls (more than 20) and the widest range of goods (more than 30 kinds)in the history of the Sheffield branch of the RSPCA. Goods on sale included books, cakes, crafts, bric-a-brac, pet supplies and refreshments for children and adults alike. There were also lectures, informal discussions, video showings and indoor games which are closely involved with animal protection and adoption. Participants were free to view animals there and meet some of the staff working at the centre.

About 200 people attended the event and it raised £2201.90, which is a new high in the branch’s record. This result is so encouraging that most volunteer trustees of the branch say they will continue to run Christmas Fayre in future years.

A volunteer of the Fayre tried to explain the reasons for this success: “This may be because of the increasing awareness of animal protection, the expanding influence of our branch and the improvement of publicity.”

“I love this event!” said Keith Towler, a fan of the Christmas Fayre, “It is a shopper’s paradise and a real recreation.”

“The event gives me an opportunity to make friends who hold the same passion as me to care for animals,” said David Miller, another animal defender.

Maria Swift, a new participant added: “I cannot wait to join this activity as soon as I heard it from one of my friends…because I think it necessary to support animal re-homing.”

The Sheffield branch of the RSPCA is completely self-funding, operating independently of the National RSPCA, the government and local authority. This means it has to pay for its activities through fund raising, donations and legacies.

“We used to depend on donations to prop up rescue efforts, but donators are usually unstable and limited. Caring for animals still lays heavy financial burdens on us. The Christmas Fayre can be a good solution to increase revenue by selling popular pre-Christmas goods,” said Louise Wilcockson, a staff in the RSPCA Sheffield branch.

However, the minority holds the view that funds raised from Christmas Fayrecan hardly cover its daily operational expenditure of more than £2000 over a long period of time.

“The Christmas Fayre cannot be the best solution to this problem, but it will not be the last one,” pointed out by Jane Hanna, “ Our E-bay shopping may be an alternative to raise funds needed.”

by Jiawen Zhou

National foodbank donation campaign benefits Sheffield

A Sheffield foodbank has received almost two tonnes of food thanks to a nationwide donation drive by retail giant Tesco.

The weekend of the 1st and 2nd of December saw Tesco stores across the UK partner with The Trussell Trust to ask customers to donate food items to local foodbanks. The “Help Feed People in Need” collection appeal received over 1,000 tonnes of food, the equivalent of more than two million meals. The Burngreave Foodbank , based at the Rock Christian Centre on Carlisle Street, Sheffield, received almost two tonnes of food from their local Tesco store. A stand staffed by Burngreave foodbank volunteers and Tesco staff was set up at the store entrance to alert customers to the appeal. Incoming shoppers were handed shopping lists of items that would be helpful to the foodbank’s supplies. The charity was asking for non-perishable items such as UHT milk, pasta, canned soup and tea bags. Customers donated varying amounts, from an extra can picked up during their shop, to whole trolleys full of food.

Due to the vast amounts donated, Tesco are helping the foodbank by storing surplus food in their storeroom. The Burngreave foodbank also received 940kg of food from Tesco back in August; they receive regular donations from the congregation, local schools and other churches. The Burngreave library also has a collection bucket. So far the Burngreave foodbank has fed over 200 people.

Foodbank Statistics

• A record breaking 100,000 Britons were fed by foodbanks between April and October 2012
• 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK, 1 in every 5 people
• Less than 5% of foodbank clients are homeless, many are working families struggling to make ends meet
• The two main reasons that people were referred to foodbanks in 2011-12 were benefit delay and low income. Other reasons for referrals include delayed wages, domestic violence, sickness, unemployment, debt, benefit changes, refused crisis loans, homelessness and absence of free school meals during school holidays. All those who received emergency food were referred by frontline care professionals such as doctors, social workers and Citizens Advice Bureau
• Foodboxes contain three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable foods such as tinned fruit, vegetables, meat and fish as well as pasta, cereal, UHT milk, sauces, tea, long-life juice
• The Trussell Trust is currently launching three new foodbanks every week

Rebecca Shelley, Corporate Affairs Director at Tesco said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of our customers throughout this appeal and to collect more than two million meals for people in need this Christmas is a huge achievement. This is just the first step in what we hope will be a long and successful partnership with the Trussell Trust who have put in an incredible amount of effort to make this appeal a success. I’d also like to thank all of our colleagues who showed fantastic team spirit and energy to make sure food was collected and distributed to those in need”.

Trussell Trust foodbanks are run in conjunction with local churches to help those in need in the community. They are run by volunteers and rely on donations from the public and local organisations. Customers are referred to the service by outside sources, such as a doctor or the Citizens Advice Bureau. They are given a voucher to redeem that will provide three days’ worth of emergency food supplies. Everything contained in the food box will be ingredients capable of making healthy meals. Whilst the customer waits for their food box to be prepared they are given a hot drink, sometimes a hot meal, and the chance to talk to volunteers.

Manger Andrew Birtwhistle got involved in the Burngreave foodbank when he and his wife moved from southwest to northeast Sheffield. They were interested in the economic divisions in the city and became members of the Rock Christian Centre in their new community. The church already had a food distribution scheme in place named ‘Helping Hands’, a small-scale operation that had been running for two years. The pastor had heard of the work that the Trussell Trust was doing and was keen to get his congregation involved. They signed up to become a Trust foodbank in December 2011 and opened on the 18th of June this year.

Whilst the foodbank is still developing and finding its place within the community they have been slowly increasing numbers of volunteers and those referred to them. Andrew says, “there is a need out there and I suspect there’s a lot of need we don’t see but the longer we’re here hopefully someone can refer them to us”. He finds that the most rewarding part of working at the foodbank is getting to know the people who are redeeming their vouchers. He says, “sometimes people want to talk, sometimes they don’t, we want them to go out thinking not just that ‘there’s one problem solved’ but that ‘someone cares about me’”.

The massive food donation from the Tesco appeal will keep Burngreave foodbank stocked for some time. However it is a project still in development. As more people are becoming aware of the facility, so more volunteers are needed. Andrew is pleased with the number of people wanting to get involved. In the future he is looking into the possibility of taking on people who are on community service orders to volunteer. This would be beneficial for both parties, providing the foodbank with volunteers whilst opening the eyes of the offenders to the poverty problems facing their community.

If you would like to find out more about The Trussell Trust, their work and your nearest foodbank please visit their website.

by Emma Riordan