City answers the call for its community with sports clothes donations to Kit Out Sunderland

“Now I can wear the right clothes when I go to my football sessions at The Beacon of Light,” says Dean, beneficiary of sports kit and active wear donation programme, Kit Out Sunderland.

- By Derick Norton Contributor

In just a matter of weeks, Kit Out Sunderland collected 224kg of sports kit, active wear and footwear to give away to local participants like Dean across the city.

“Lack of kit and lack of suitable kit is a real barrier to children and young people taking part in sport and physical activity,” says Kathryn Foley, North East Regional Manager for Sported.

“The point of the project is to gather in unwanted and unused kit that people have got lying around and then distribute it to the community groups that can really make best use of it.”

One of those groups was Young Asian Voices, with their Executive Manager, Ram Kumareswaradas, adding: “Most of the young people that come into our group don't have kits, so it stops them from participating.

“By having these donated items, sports clothing and shoes and trainers, it opens up opportunities for young people and adults to take part in sports.”

In total, 13 public donations stations were set up at locations around the city and local area, as well as at Nissan's manufacturing plant specifically for Nissan employees and their families.