HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE KITAID TEAM

It's been yet another fantastic year for KitAid. Thank you all for your continued support - donors, companies, schools, football clubs (from grass roots to the Premiership), our volunteers and charity partners. Have a very Merry Christmas and look forward to building upon our achievements in 2012!

Highlights from the year:

• 28,500 items of kit sent all across the World in 2011 (at no expense to KitAid) 815 footballs, sets of goalposts, 1,000+ Match Attax cards
• also delivered 168,000 items of kit sent out since we started in 1998
• Interviewed on BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Leicester for separate appeals featured in many different newspapers up and down the country and also some international media
• We sponsored the brilliant Ballysillan YFC Football Camp in Belfast again
• We were chosen as the charity partner for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League season 2011/12
• Partnered with Taylor Wimpey who collected kit for us at new developments all across the UK
• We partnered with Liverpool FC, Liverpool Echo and BBC Radio Merseyside to collect Torres and old LFC kit
• We set up a new Ambassador Club scheme with Chesham Utd, FC United, Stenhousemuir and Witton Albion We have received continued support from PUMA UK as well as other manufacturers (Great Branding Co, Mundo Football, Tempest Sports, DPM Sports and Kitlocker)
• We have created a volunteer partnership with University of Herts 
• We would like to thank our Patron, Graham Taylor OBE, and all of the clubs across the UK who have donated kit 

END OF YEAR BOXING UP

We sent out 92 boxes today, which included 40 boxes of Puma trainers, to Zambia, Gambia, Eastern Europe and South Africa. The really good news is that we have topped the 800 box barrier as we have so far sent out 815 boxes in 2011, approx 28,500 items of kit. Quite amazing when you think we have between us all unpacked many hundreds of bags/boxes, sorted and re-boxed this many individual items. Also 28,500 smiles across the world! Hope you like the photo, KitAid Santa's bringing happiness across the globe!!

CHRISTMAS CLEAR OUT

Tidying up the house for Christmas? Buying new kit as presents? Remember to clear out any no longer wanted shirts and if you're in Manchester, you can drop them into Mundo Football in the Arndale Centre - our official kit collection point. Click here for the Manchester Evening News

THANKS TO FC UNITED

Our thanks to everyone at FC United for supporting us through a recent kit collection. Pictured above Andy Walsh and Derrick Williams.

and in the Club

EVO-STIK CHARITY PARTNERSHIP STRIDES AHEAD

Marine AFC from Liverpool will be promoting their support of KitAid over the Christmas and New Year period - a perfect time for clearing out no longer wanted football kit to donate to those who have very little across the World. With support from BBC Radio Merseyside, they are expecting a good response from their fans and local people in the area.

Well done and thanks for your enthusiasm!

NEW TRUSTEE COMES ON BOARD

Welcome to Janet Neville, our dedicated Regional Coordinator from Liverpool who has taken up the role of Trustee for the charity. We're really pleased to have Janet take up this role, she's been working with the charity for a good number of years now and will be a fantastic addition to our Board of Trustees.

MANCHESTER DROP-OFF POINT AT MUNDO FOOTBALL

Mundo Football is proud to announce that they are now a drop off point for KitAid in their Arndale Centre store. Mundo specialise in football inspired clothing and retro football shirts from years gone by and as well as having a store in Manchester, you can find Mundo Products in Manchester's House of Fraser store and online at www.mundofootball.com

If you are going to Manchester to watch your team, or you are a Manchester City or United fan with Tevez on the back of your shirt, why not visit the Mundo Store and donate your shirt to KitAid.

Thanks to Paul Codd (left) and Jack Carpenter.

More about Mundo

THANKS TO MARINE FC AND THE EVOSTIK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

Thanks to all at Marine FC and the EvoStik Northern Premier League for your support of KitAid. Really appreciate it and your help will really make a difference to some of the poorest people in the world who really have so little but love football just as much as we do.

RSVP RWANDA SPORTING HEMEL ACES KIT

We donated 17 football strips to the RSVP charity, Rwanda. They were presented to Mihaburu School in time for an inter-schools match.

"A big thank you to you from all the children on behalf of RSVP"- Jean Main

And KitAid's thanks go to Hemel Aces YFC who have supplied a lot of the kit and especially to Kenny Lawrence who has been really helpful to KitAid. He lent us the van and drove Derrick Williams up to Manchester recently for the FC United collection.

MORE SMILES FROM MALAWI

Barrow FC make it to Malawi, thanks to David Ingham, our new Regional Coordinator for donating the kit and www.fomo.co.uk for getting it out there.

KIT FOR CHILDREN IN DROUGHT-HIT SOMALIA

The Somali National Olympic Committee has just distributed kit to children displaced by drought.

Working with the Qatar charity and KitAid, the Committee organized a programme at the Qatar village IDP camp near stadium Mogadishu. Over the weekend hundreds of young boys received football kit and took part in football matches organized by the Somali NOC and Qatar charity.

Madino Nur Madey, a mother of five children who travelled more than two hundred kilometers to reach Mogadishu in search of something to eat said that she is happy. She forgot all hardships she experienced after she witnessed her two sons performing well during a football match for children at the Qatar Village camp.

“I have never dreamt like this experience. My two sons have played well and one of them was awarded with a beautiful medal for being the best player in the competition. This will be something to talk a lot in the future," the cheerful mother told a gathering.

GREAT INTERVIEW ON BBC RADIO LEICESTER TODAY

Thanks for supporting us!

MAKING THE NEWS IN SOMALIA

Click here

BRISTOL CITY FC TEAM UP WITH KITAID

We're delighted to announce Bristol City FC as one of our growing list of supporters as they launched our new partnership today.

The club will be encouraging fans to donate their old kits by offering an added incentive to fans. For every old Bristol City replica shirt donated, fans will be able to save £10 towards a new 2011-2012 replica Bristol City FC shirt.

Bristol City FC’s Commercial Director, Kevin Smith, said: "This is a great opportunity for fans to not only give their old City shirts to people less fortunate around the world, but through the added incentive, they too can get money off a new one. It's a win, win for all involved and we’re extremely happy to support this volunteer led charity which does such a great job to make the most of old football kits around the world."

Link to press article

KIT WELL RECEIVED IN INDIA

"I am just writing a quick note to say thanks again for the kit you gave us to take out to India. It was incredibly well received and the kids absolutely loved it. We also had some left over and used it for starting up a project in Kampala.

Thanks again for everything - you really made a lot of kids extremely happy with your donation to us!"

Paul Harbinson, Onside Soccer

NEWS FROM THE REGIONS

Well done to Caroline Hesselden and David Ingham who organised their first events as Regional Coordinators recently. Caroline has set up a collection scheme with a school in Halifax and David arranged for Barrow FC from the National Conference to donate their kit.

Thanks again to you all for your support in the regions. We need you out there as it would be impossible for us to do what you do from our base in Hatfield.

Welcome to Mike Day, our new Regional Coordinator in Kent.

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER HOLD KIT DONATION DAY

Peter Moulds with Karl Marginson (FC United manager)

Peter Moulds, one of our Regional Coordinators, has organised another kit collection day at the FC United of Manchester match against Marine on Saturday 8 October 2011. The game is at Stalybridge and we'd love to see any of our supporters or welcome new supporters of KitAid at the match.

Check out the club website

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR KIT PACKERS

Thanks very much for your help this morning.

Another good session and altogether 72 boxes left the building which means that we have now sent out a total of 618 boxes so far in 2011. This time we also had deliveries to Colombia and Lesotho for the first time.

We finished in record time again, we definitely missed Sean's megamix as at times it was eerily quiet! We'll never moan about his ecelctic taste again!

See you next time.

CALLING HELP FROM NORWICH!

We've just had great news that that the Norfolk FA will be supporting us with all of their surplus kit. We have a problem though as our couriers don't do many jobs in Norfolk so they are currently unable to collect the first donation.

If anyone is able to help by transporting kit from Norwich to Hatfield then we'd love to hear from you at KitAid@veoliawater.co.uk

ROLL UP, ROLL UP FOR THE RICKY ROAD RUN

We have a strong connection with the annual Ricky Road Run, now in its 28th year. The event was founded back in 1984 by our Founder, Derrick Williams to raise much needed funds for WaterAid and nominated local charities. This year the event takes place on Sunday 30 October and for the first time the event organisers have pledged some of the money raised to KitAid.

If you know any runners or fancy helping out on the morning as a marshal, do let us know by emailing kitaid@veoliawater.co.uk It's a 9 mile run, a really friendly event and a scenic route through the Chilterns. For more information seewww.rickyroadrun.co.uk

ASDAN/FOOTBALL LEAGUE/WATFORD FC LAUNCH

We were pleased to be able to give a presentation at the ASDAN/Football League/Watford FC Launch. This is a really interesting project set up between the three groups, providing a vocational training programme which uses football to engage kids and to teach them all kinds of different skills.

There was a mixture of clubs, schools and educational bodies in attendance and it was a good opportunity for us to reach a new audience. Derrick was extremely excited to speak in the 'Sir Elton John suite'!

Find out more about the scheme

ALIVE & KICKING UPDATE FROM ZAMBIA

The Alive & Kicking Orphanage World Cup gave over 800 orphans and vulnerable children in the city of Lusaka access to organised football and netball competitions and at the same time provideD life skills training and HIV/AIDS sensitisation. A series of mini leagues were held over a six month period and were followed by a World Cup style tournament running over two weeks and culminating in a thrilling final.

A total of 450 footballs and netballs have been donated, along with football kits. Over 600 children have received HIV/AIDS awareness information, and over 100 coaches and teachers have received training on how to disseminate HIV/AIDS awareness through sport. In a city where there are limited opportunities for the most vulnerable children to take part in organised sport, this project has been received with gratitude and smiles by children and their teachers and coaches alike.

Thanks to Ben Sadler, Project Officer at TackeAfrica and the team.

GEARING UP TO FOR THEIR NEW LEAGUE IN KENYA

I just had this picture in from Kenya, western province area of Bungoma, where they are putting teams together to enable them to play local district, and then inter-province tournaments.

All very promising and very exciting for them too - thanks for the kit.

Ben Van Nes

Regional Coordinator

KITAID IN KAMPALA

Thanks to Ben Van Nes, one of our regional coordinators, for sending in this photo from Kampala, Uganda.

FASCINATING FACT

Did you know? We recycle around 15 tonnes of unwanted sports equipment per year saving it from the bin or landfill and instead finding it a new home in a different continent.

WRITE UP IN THE WITTON REVIEW

Thanks to our Regional Coordinator, Peter Moulds for organising this great write up in the Witton Review

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER, SECOND AMBASSADOR CLUB SIGNING

FC United of Manchester has become an KitAid's second Ambassador Club.

KitAid has been working with FC United for six years and it was a natural step for the club to become a fully signed up support of the charity.

Derrick Williams KitAid's Founder said: “I have been thinking of setting this scheme up for a while now as it is a good way to recognise the support we receive from many clubs all across the UK.

“I did think of approaching individual footballers to become ambassadors, in the same way that people like Madonna or Robbie Williams are ambassadors for the very big charities, but I thought it was better to link with individual clubs and it is a novel idea.

“Clubs like FC United of Manchester have been fantastic in the support they have given us over the years and this is a nice way of keeping the partnership working.”

Lindsey Howard, secretary of FC United, said: “We are very pleased to have been invited to join the Ambassador Club scheme and as a community based club it fits in really well with the way we work.

“We have supported KitAid for some time now through various activities such as kit collections, match ball sponsorship and the sponsorship of former keeper Sam Ashton’s kit. We know that our supporters are behind the project as well, as they have donated a lot of shirts at the collection days we have held. I am sure the idea will catch on with a lot of different clubs all across the country.”

18,300 ITEMS OF KIT DONATED THIS YEAR

Thanks very much to all of the helpers who boxed up kit in Hatfield today - it was great to see some new faces.

This time last week we only had five helpers so it was great that you all came to the rescue and it turned out to be a really busy session.

I was loading the van so I lost track of the final total boxed up, but it must have been close to 80.

Altogether 43 boxes left to go to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe and this has increased the total we have sent so far this year to 524 boxes (18,300 items of kit).

TAYLOR WIMPEY HOMES IN FOR A SECOND YEAR

Following last year's successful support of KitAid, Taylor Wimpey Homes are backing us for a second season. Last year their trialed collections in three of their regions and this year their collecting kit at 200 of their new developments up and down the country.

We really appreciate their support.

Check out the Taylor Wimpey website

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER DO THEIR BIT FOR US AGAIN

Peter Moulds has kindly arranged another kit collection at a match, which is scheduled for their game against Marine on Saturday 8 October 2011. We will be driving up on the day in a transit van, which we will hopefully fill and then drive back again that evening. This time the game is not at Gigg Lane, Bury, but at Stalybridge, which apparently is a scenic ground. I love the atmosphere at FC United games and now with our partnership with the Evo-Stik league, it should receive more publicity.

Come along to the match and support KitAid at the same time.

THANKS TO WATFORD FC FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT

Thanks to Claire Whalley for setting up the stand at Watford FC. We had a prime position next to the retail tent and to where the players were signing autographs. In total we received eight bin bags of donated shirts and spoke to a lot of people who either want to make a donation or wanted to know what we were about.

We received a lot of plugs over the tannoy and our thanks go out to WFC for their continued support.

BACK TO BALLYSILLAN

Our Regional Coordinator, Janet Neville and Derrick (KitAid Founder) visited the Football Camp in Ballysillan, Belfast that KitAid has formed a strong link with over the last few years.

"Another amazing visit and even though this is my third consecutive trip, once again I left with a feeling of awe and admiration for the brilliant work Pete and his team do. Football Camp really does mean so much to the kids and to all of the volunteers (about 30 in total) who help out all through the week", said Derrick.

"I also met an amazing guy from a charity we gave kit to last year - Kids Alive. Alistair is a teacher at Carrickfergus High School and they recently collected a load of shirts for us. We split them between Kids Alive and Mission Africa, another Belfast based charity who will take them out to Nigeria."

KitAid would like to say a huge thank you to Janet's in-laws who donated money from their Ruby Wedding Party and wish Pete and the team every success in raise the £300k to get moving on their new building.

PHOTOS FROM ZIMBABWE

Photos in from the Zimbabwe Province of the Society of Jesus.

TWO HUNDRED PER CENT SUPPORT

Our thanks to Twohundredpercent for their support in raising the profile of KitAid and the work we do.

See their posting

FANCY DOING YOUR BIT FOR FOOTBALL IN THE GAMBIA?

One of our charity partners, 'Football Gambia' is looking for keen volunteers to join them on a trip to The Gambia in July 2012. To find out more, read the attached newsletter

NORTH FERRIBY SCORES TEN GOALS FOR KITAID

North Ferriby Utd have become the first club to donate equipment to the KitAid through the Evo-Stik League's new charity partner scheme.

The Evo-Stik League Premier Division side have donated ten sets of mini goals and have become the first team to kick off the new charity partnership.

KitAid director Derrick Williams was delighted by the donation, and said: "The goals will be sent out to a brilliant project in the Gambia and will be made to last for years to come.

"We often receive photos of goals that are made up of branches and old sacks as the nets, so you can imagine how pleased the teams will be to have real goals.

"Thanks to Steve Tather from the club for backing the appeal and we hope this is the first of many donations in the coming season."

BUMPER BOXING UP SESSION

Another great boxing up session today and thanks for your help.

This one will go down in the history books as the "League of Nations" session as we had visitors from Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and I even got to speak to Mo Farah as we were loading the Somalian guys van!

It was nice to see David Ingham, the new Regional Co-ordinator from Lancaster who came down specially and also the Fidler family (Jason, Nicole, Chris and Clare). It was Chris who cycled from Somerset to Kings Langley a few months ago and raised an amazing £5k for KitAid.

Altogether 88 boxes left today and we are now up to 465 boxes for the year, that's 16,275 items of kit so far in 2011 and 156,275 since 1998.

Thanks again everyone, you will have made 3,000 people very happy in South Africa, Rwanda, Gambia, Somalia,Kenya and Zambia.

Best wishes, Derrick

WATFORD FC SUPPORT KITAID AT THEIR OPEN DAY

Watford FC has put a plea out to its supporters to bring any no longer wanted footie kit to their open day on Sunday 24 July, 10am - 4pm at West Herts Sports and Social Club.

Read more

NEWS FROM NIGERIA

Photo sent in by Eunice after her trip to Nigeria

WILLIAM RANSOM SCHOOL, HITCHIN TO SUPPORT KITAID

Students at William Ransom School in Hitchin learnt about the work of KitAid, following a presentation by our Founder, Derrick Williams.

The school is working with its parents, carers and school community to help donate shirts for the KitAid appeal

See the William Ransom website

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOOTBALL GAMBIA

Congratulations to Football Gambia, one of our charity partners on their second birthday. Really enjoyed working with you all - keep up the good work Ian and the team

VEOLIA WATER CENTRAL STAFF RAISE FUNDS FOR KITAID

Thanks to all employees at Veolia Water Central for their support on 'Time to give Friday'. Staff took part in a 'back of the net' competition, made and bought cakes and held a raffle for 2 VIP Lee Evans tickets, a signed Stevenage FC ball and a golf day, - altogether raising around £1,287.18.

Thanks to Kirsty McEvoy and Laura Davis for their hard work in organising the events.

OUR FOUNDER WINS AWARD FROM HERTS FA

BIG UP for Derrick Williams, KitAid's founder, who was presented with the Herts FA Workforce Award last week by Peter Shilton at their season awards dinner.

Derrick said: "I'm extremely proud to receive this on behalf of KitAid and thank all of our helpers, supporters, donors and partners who all do a fantastic job."

CARRICKFERGUS COLLEGE DONATE THEIR KIT

Hats off to Carrickfergus College, Northern Ireland for supporting us.

Read the article

EVO-STIK LEAGUE ANNOUNCES KITAID AS CHARITY PARTNER

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League announced KitAid as its official charity partner for 2011/12 season at the annual Evo-Stik League Awards in Blackpool.

Derrick Williams and Regional Coordinator, Lesley Giddens, attended the event. We're delighted about this support and our regional co-ordinators will arrange to collect from local clubs when there's a decent amount to make the journey worth while - we care for the environment too!

Read the announcement

Football Trade Directory

CHECK OUT YOUTUBE

See the work of one of our Regional Coordinators, Ben van Nes, in Zambia and Kenya.

Thanks to Ben's son for putting this together

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA6ZsXHs3uc

THUMBS UP TO OUR RAF CHARITY PARTNERS FOR THEIR GREAT WORK!

A team of airmen from RAF Shawbury completed an epic visit to Kenya. Pictured in Africa's largest slum, Kibera, in Nairobi the appeal is run by Sqn Ldr Neil Hope and has to date delivered over 41,500 items, including over 17,500 football shirts to 34 countries worldwide, with by far the most ending up in Kenya. Well done guys, keep up the good work!

OUR CHARITY PARTNER ABOUT TO VISIT KENYA

All the best to our charity partner, the RAF's Taking Football to Africa and Beyond. Neil Hope and the team fly out to Nairobi on 11 June to visit orphanages and slum schools greatly in need of donations.

Take care and keep up the good work!

KITAID'S FOUNDER NOMINATED FOR AWARD

We're delighted that Derrick Williams, our founder, has been nominated for an award by Hertfordshire FA. All the best Derrick and well done.

Read more

BIG SMILES FROM UGANDA

Photos just in from Uganda from Emily Smith, following her trip out there with teachers from St Mary's School, Surbiton.

STENHOUSEMUIR FC BECOMES KITAID'S FIRST SCOTTISH AMBASSADOR CLUB

Terry Bulloch, Director of Stenhousemuir FC said:

“We're very pleased to have been invited to launch the Ambassador Club scheme in Scotland and as a community based club it fits in really well with the way we work. We have supported KitAid for some time now and love to see the pictures of our old kit being used in Africa. We know that our supporters are behind the project as well, as they have donated a lot of shirts at the collection days we have held. I am sure the idea will catch on with a lot of different clubs all across the country.”

Read more

BEN IN KITABISI, NORTHERN KENYA

Our Regional Co-ordinator for the East Sussex area - Ben Van Nes, with school children from Kitabisi, Northern Kenya. They've just been presented with Luton Town kit which was donated following the presentation given by our Founder, Derrick Williams, at St Alban Church in Hemel Hempstead.

Read the article in Luton Today

90 MORE BOXES PACKED AND WAITING TO BE WORN

Many thanks to everybody that helped at this morning's boxing up session. We sent out 90 boxes which has brought our total so far for 2011 to exactly 300 boxes.  This also pushes us over the 150,000 items of kit barrier which we have sent out since 1998.  One more stat, if each item cost £30 we have transported approximately £4.5m worth of kit.  

NEWS JUST IN FROM SIERRA LEONE

"Thanks so much for the kits, they were really well received in Sierra Leone at the school we went to and we managed to give every pupil a kit. As you can see the kits from Guildford Town Youth, Hemel Town Youth and lots of individual kits were well received. It was a tough and challenging trip in many ways but seeing the kids faces in these kits was great." - Darren White

OUR ARTICLE IN LIVERPOOL FC'S MATCH PROGRAMME

Thanks to Regional Coordinators, Janet Neville and Vin O'Brien we've got a great article in Liverpool FC's match programme.

Great effort!

KITAID REALLY IS ABOUT PEOPLE

We were delighted to receive an email from Festo Chengula, Executive Chairman of Kigamboni Community Centre (KCC) in Tanzania. The community centre had received a donation of kit from us via our charity partner, Read International.

They got creative and put their balancing skills to the test and have sent us a brand new logo - we love it!

Thanks to KCC www.kccdar.com

CHEERS FOR CHRIS

Determined uncle, Chris Fidler, pulled on a Spiderman costume, hopped on his bike and cycled a gruelling 160 mile journey in memory of his dear eight year old nephew, Charlie, who tragically died last year at a bar-b-q.

The two-day saddle ride from Somerset to Kings Langley, not only prompted tears and cheers at the finishing post on today but also raised more than £5,000 for KitAid, the charity that had been dear to the eight year old Arsenal supporter Charlie Fidler who lost his life last June.

“I cycled for Charlie to show how much we all love him,” said Chris as he embraced Charlie’s parents, Jason and Nicole and other family members and friends. It was a hard journey but I kept thinking of Charlie along the way and that kept me going. Raising money for KitAid was what Charlie would have wanted and I wore Spiderman and Batman costumes as Charlie loved dressing up when he was little.”

Little Charlie, from Hemel Hempstead was a keen and talented young player who was part of the Hemel Hempstead Town Youth team. He had been awarded ‘the most improved player of the year’ trophy on the day he died in his father’s arms, following a severe allergic reaction. But just one week before his death Charlie had spotted a story about KitAid in the local paper that proved to be a catalyst to turning tragedy into a positive act of kindness.

“Charlie had been looking at the front-page story about KitAid’s work in Africa and said ‘mummy isn’t that great?” explained Charlie’s mum, Nicole. “He thought it was a lovely idea that unwanted football kit would be sent to children in need around the world. “

Following his death, his parents remembered Charlie’s charity comments and decided they would help support KitAid in memory of their son.

Our most sincere thanks and gratitude go to Chris, Jason, Nicole and all those who supported Chris's fund raising efforts.

LIVERPOOL & BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE KICK OFF APPEAL

Our Regional Coordinators, Janet Neville and Vin O'Brien have worked wonders getting Liverpool FC, the Liverpool Echo, BBC Radio Merseyside and Supersub, David Fairclough involved in a kit appeal.

We are waiting to hear exactly when it will be aired but we know it will be used on both their drivetime and breakfast shows and in a sports programme in very early May, to coincide with the article which will appear in the Liverpool v Newcastle programme.

It is with huge sadness that we heard that David Fairclough's wife had passed away suddenly last week.

KitAid sends our condolences to David, his family and friends at this terrible time.

Read the Liverpool Echo

MINI BOXING UP WITH MAXI BOXES FOR DESPATCH

On behalf of the KitAid Trustees a big thank you for all those volunteers who helped at tonight’s boxing up session. This is the first time we’ve tried an after-work boxing-up and it’s certainly been a success. Twenty boxes are now ready for dispatch. That’s a massive achievement especially with so many new faces learning the ropes. It’ll really take the pressure of the next Saturday session.

We hope you all found it rewarding and do remember that your efforts today will result in some very big smiles when those boxes are opened in far flung and less affluent parts of the world.

Thanks once again and hope to see you in the future – maybe at another evening session or possibly on a Saturday!

CHRIS FIDLER CYCLES IN MEMORY OF HIS NEPHEW - CHARLIE

We would like to thank Chris Fidler who will be raising sponsorship for us by cycling all the way from Somerset to Kings Langley in Hertfordshire on 14 April. Chris is raising funds in memory of his nephew, Charlie Fidler, and KitAid is proud to be associated with this event. We will post some photos of the trip as soon as we receive them and if you would like to sponsor Chris please do so via the link to his Virgin Money Giving site.

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Check out our Annual Review - it's been a fantastic season packed full of new contacts, new donations, new helpers, new recipients and a great deal of pride that we're doing a great job and working with some really great charities and voluntary organisations to support the valuable heath and development work that they do too.

Thanks to you all!

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN YFC COME ON BOARD

Our thanks to Hemel Hempstead Town Youth Football Club for their fantastic donation of kit. We look forward to working with you in the future and are very grateful for your interest and support. Some of the kit donated has already left for Sierra Leone.

HITCHIN TOWN FC IN THE GAMBIA

One of our trustees, Sally Howe, was delighted to see her son's kit being worn by a little girl in The Gambia - thanks to Ian Stapleton for getting it out there and for all his hard work.

Find out more about Ian's work in The Gambia

KITAID'S FIRST TRIP TO PALESTINE

BOXING UP BOOSTS THE DELIVERIES TO GO OVERSEAS

Another record boxing up session, 62 boxes packed in 2 hours and the kits are on their way to Ghana, Gambia, Uganda, South Africa and to Palestine for the very first time.

Thanks also to Paul and Sean H for hanging on for the School Aid van to arrive and for loading in the 52 boxes.

We are soon to receive all of the Torres merchandise from Liverpool FC.

CHESHAM UTD BECOME KITAID'S FIRST AMBASSADOR CLUB SUPPORTER

After years of supporting KitAid, Chesham United FC has become the charity's first Ambassador Club Supporter.

Alan Calder, chairman of Chesham United, said: “We are very pleased to have been invited to launch the Ambassador Club scheme and as a community based club it fits in really well with the way we work.

“We have supported KitAid for some time now and love to see the pictures of our old kit being used in countries like Zambia and Bulgaria. We know that our supporters are behind the project as well, as they have donated a lot of shirts at the collection days we have held.

“I am sure the idea will catch on with a lot of different clubs all across the country.”

Click here to view Chesham Utd's website

Thanks too to the Bucks Examiner for covering the story

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FOOTBALL GAMBIA GETS 110 NEW FOOTBALL COACHES QUALIFIED

We're delighted to see the work of our charity partner, Football Gambia. Over 110 football coaches have just qualified thanks to the work of volunteers who are helping with the developing of the game.

Click here for more information

NEW YEAR GETS OFF TO A GOOD START

We're off and running as 50+ boxes were packed today at our first boxing up session of the year and are already on their way to Africa.

We were pleased to welcome students from the University of Herts who made a big difference to the packing team. Thanks to all of those who turned up.