Kit Out the Nation campaign a success in the Malvern Hills District

Up to 20 bin bags of sports clothing and equipment has been donated to two leisure centres in the Malvern Hills District to support young people in need.

The Kit Out the Nation campaign, which ran throughout September, encouraged people to donate their used, good quality sports clothes and equipment.

Freedom Leisure worked with BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester to support the campaign and set up donation drop-off points at Malvern Splash and Tenbury Community Pool.

Donations included everyday items of sports clothing, as well as more unusual donations such as several sets of golf clubs, skis, archery set and an exercise bike.

The campaign was 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'.

The donations will be given to local schools and distributed to young people.

Cllr Sarah Rouse, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "It is wonderful to see the local community come together and donate their unused sports clothing. These items will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people by providing them with the opportunity to get more active. It is also giving a new lease of life to good, quality equipment which otherwise be gathering dust in someone's cupboard".

Dave Reynolds, Fitness Manager at Freedom Leisure, said: "The Kit Out the Nation campaign has been a fantastic success. Local schools will benefit hugely from the success of this campaign and will go to children and teenagers who need it most. The other benefit with all the clothing and equipment that has been donated would have gone to landfill so this is recycling on a grand scale and benefits the environment. We would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated during this campaign as this will make a difference to many".

Visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/ for more information on the leisure centres in the district.