Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) and ApparelXchange CIC (AXC), have launched a collaborative project to gather unwanted sportswear for young people aged 4-18 before it reaches landfill.
The project combines the strengths of both organisations, including enabling young people to be active through sport and physical activity, reusing clothing and reducing the impact of waste on the environment.
SSF work across the most deprived areas in Glasgow, North Ayrshire, Fife and Stirling, with many of the young people and families living in poverty. This fantastic Kit for All style project means that donated clothing and footwear can be given to young people and families who need it.
How does the project operate?
The sports clothing initiative is being promoted on social media and asks for people to get in touch with SSF or AXC. To make the donation process simple, people can call or complete a form on the AXC website.
The overall aim of the project is to gather sportswear of all types, styles and sizes then prepare it for reuse; to SSF and any other individuals or organisations in need of sports clothing.
Not only does the collaboration bring affordable clothing and footwear to many young people and enable them to participate in sport, but the initiative also meets multiple policy objectives for Scotland, including protecting the environment, tackling poverty and health.
We caught up with Jude Reid, Head of Sustainable Business Development at Scottish Sports Futures who said, “we’re currently mid-way through the first donation drive and have had lots of feedback so far that the initiative sounds great. Several individuals and other organisations keen to donate or hear more about the partnership”.
Overcoming challenges
Jude tells us that with geographic locations spread across 4 regions (Glasgow, Fife, North Ayrshire and Stirling), the project team wanted to ensure the initiative runs across all these areas.
“Due to some uncertainty around office bases we were unable to provide drop off points in all the LA areas to make it more accessible for people to drop off donations. We’re therefore only offering drop off points in 2 areas at the moment, hopefully rising to 3 before the end of the official drive. In future we hope to be able to offer more drop off locations”.
Direct environmental impact
Clothing has become a disposable commodity and, in the UK alone, £140m worth of clothing reaches the bin each year. To compound this, it is projected by 2030, average consumption is thought to rise by 63% worldwide, causing even more pollution and destroying habitats.
Izzie Eriksen, Founding Director of ApparelXchange says:
“We are hugely excited to be working with SSF to tackle the problem of waste and enabling more people to be part of slowing down climate change. Combining this with the work of SSF, enabling more young people to get involved in sport and physical activity, is very important to developing the potential of young people and ensuring they appreciate their important role in the world”.
Jude Reid, Head of Sustainable Business Development at Scottish Sports Futures adds:
“We are delighted to have formed this partnership with AXC. The clothing gathered during the drive will be reused to give to our young people who face real adversity and poverty. This partnership not only provides access to good quality but low-cost sport sports attire to ensure lack of kit isn’t a barrier to participating in sport and physical activity, it will also help us to reduce the impact of unsustainable clothing on the planet – it really is a win win!”
What advice would you give to others looking to start a similar initiative?
Jude tells us that while SSF could have completed a donation drive and accepted items, they wouldn’t have had the capacity to sort out all the items and distribute to those who most need them without AXC. She highlights the partnership as an important consideration for any organisations thinking about this type of initiative to ensure that it is sustainable.
How can you make a difference?
Drop off locations are in Glasgow City Centre and Southside, collection service and bulk postage can all be arranged by calling the ApparelXchange team on 07383572327 or competing the form on the Apparelxchange homepage. More sites will become available in May 2022.