Two leisure centres in the Malvern Hills District are on a mission to 'Kit Out The Nation' and support young people in need.
Freedom Leisure is working with BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester to support the month-long campaign to help provide sports equipment to children and young people who need it most.
Up until 2 October 2021, people will be able to donate their unwanted, good condition sports kit at drop-off points at Malvern Splash and Tenbury Community Pool.
Donations can include everyday items of sports clothing and regular games equipment that a young person can use in an activity, such as balls, bats and rackets.
The campaign has been created because it is known that the cost of sport clothing and equipment can be unaffordable for many families, making access to sport and exercise more difficult.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee published a report on 29 July 2021 with data from Sport England showing 100,000 fewer children met the recommended level of activity in 2020 than in 2019 was 'of significant concern'.
Cllr Sarah Rouse, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "This is a great cause which will provide children and young people the opportunity to get more active and more involved in sport. If you have good condition sports kit that you don't need that is lying around, donating it can really make a difference to someone's life. Not only that, but it is an environmentally friendly way of giving unused items a new lease of life".
Dave Spencer, Area Manager at Freedom Leisure, said: "Freedom Leisure is delighted to be supporting 'Kit Out the Nation' to help provide sports equipment to children and young people who need it in order to get more active. The teams at both Malvern Splash and Tenbury Community Pool are all ready to accept your donations."
For more information on how to donate:
Malvern Splash: www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/malvern-splash-leisure-centre/malvern-news/kit-out-the-nation!/
Tenbury Community Pool: www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/tenbury-swimming-pool/news/kit-out-the-nation!/
