We caught up with Susan McConnachie, Active Schools Co-Ordinator for the Grove Academy Cluster to chat about their new Kit for All initiative.
How did the initiative come about?
The idea for this Kit for All project began following a P2 ice skating session where some of the Active Schools Coordinators and colleagues became aware that some pupils did not have spare clothes to change into after the activity.
After noticing this barrier and understanding the reality that many young people are in need of sports clothing to participate in different physical activity sessions, the initiative was started.
Susan McConnachie tells us that she began emailing school head teachers and contacts with information on when and what kit would be required. She also emailed school and family development officers of young people she knew genuinely needed clothing. The process was kept simple, using an online referral form. Coordinators also shared information on the initiative on social media platforms and used Seesaw (an online classroom communication tool) to send messages directly to parents to drop off or collect kit.
Taking place in the last week of term before the Easter holidays, people in the local area were asked to bring in kit. With the help of Baldragon Academy, Active School’s Coordinators were able to clean and sort kit ahead of the Easter camps, where clothing was laid out in sizes, ages and bundled together in packs. DISC by Morgan Academy were also influential for the project and allowed Susan and her team to store donations.
What do you enjoy most about Kit for All?
Susan says the best thing about the initiative is “knowing you are doing something good and worthwhile”. She also notes that with the rising price of fuel and electricity, it is a responsibility to consider the bigger picture of Kit for All projects and ensure that young people not only have kit to participate or be active, but that you could be helping someone have cosy clothes to keep warm and feel safe at home – “although this is not the aim of the project it is a bonus and benefit of the wider impact”.
Overcoming and facing challenges
The Dundee Kit for All project had a high number of referrals which led to some young people still without kit, most notable young girls. Around 14 schools in the cluster bought into the programme out of 28, so there is still some room for improvement and partnerships.
In total the project had 122 referrals and the online form had to close early due to more donations being required. As a result of the high demand for clothing, the initiative has partnered with local charities Dundee Bairns who have previously made packed lunches for holiday programmes and supplied coats for kids during the winter, and Togs for Tots who are the ‘go-to’ service for families struggling to provide essential clothing and equipment for children (any baby or child classed as a dependent).
“We realise a main challenge in this area is that people might not have clothes to hand in in the first place, but we are not giving up” – Susan McConnachie, Active Schools Co-Ordinator
Feedback on the project and advice to others
The Kit for All project has received thanks from parents and family development officers informally, however Susan tells us that they have not asked for formal feedback due to the nature of the project.
The referral forms were kept simple with first initial, surname then the size required. Susan suggests not putting too much on the form and avoid being too specific. “The aim of the project is to give young people kit to be active”.
Susan’s advice to others for future projects would be to order a bulk of sealed postage bags to hand out kit within schools to keep the project discrete as opposed to carrier bags - “By doing this you are giving the parent an opportunity to give the clothing to their child who might not be aware of their situation, it is a lot kinder this way”.