The organisation was set up to recycle sports kit for the benefit of young people in the UK and overseas so they are given a ‘sporting chance’.
It was established in 2001 by former rugby player John Broadfoot, who was moved by the sight of an eight-year-old boy in Romania running with the ball under one arm while using the other to hold up his shorts.
With the support of the International Rugby Board in Dublin, he started supplying second-hand kit to Romania to help the development of youth rugby.
Since then, £6million of clothing and equipment has been donated by more than 1,000 schools and clubs as well as kit manufacturers across the UK.
A quarter of a million young people in 44 developing countries have received quality
used and new kit, and there are a further
20 countries on the waiting list.
They are also making use of kit that would otherwise become environmentally damaging waste – the programme has saved more then 750 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Tunbridge Wells RFC Chairman Mike Rigby said: “We are delighted to help this charity as they strive to make a positive and tangible impact on children’s lives.
“It gives them the chance to participate in sporting activities, promoting social inclusion, and also protecting the environment by reducing the proportion of used kits in landfill sites.”
He added: “As the result of its collection day, the club has been able to send the charity 315 youth playing shirts as well as T-shirts, boots and even a set of old post protectors!
“This would not have been possible without the generosity of members and the club’s Youth Section sponsors Countryside, Greenstone Financial Planning, Nortrade, HR Revolution, Bethany School, Cripps Pemberton Greenish and The Mark Cross Inn.”
For more information, visit soskitaid.com
