Harrogate Town AFC and Harrogate High School join forces for Kit out the Nation.
The month-long campaign back in September – aimed at taking in and distributing unwanted, good condition sports kit and passing it on to children and teenagers who need it - saw Harrogate Town donate over 100 items to Harrogate High School including sports equipment and replica Harrogate Town shirts.
A recent from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee published data from Sport England which showed 100,000 fewer children met the recommended level of activity in 2020 than in 2019 and it was "of significant concern." One obstacle that was highlighted for a lack of participation was the affordability of kit.
On Tuesday 8 March, students from the Harrogate High School got the chance to wear the kit for the first time, with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 taking part in a Round Robin tournament wearing the donated kit. After the tournament, they were then told they’d be able to keep the shirts, something that they were overjoyed about.
Assistant Head Teacher at Harrogate High School, Lee Wilson, was hugely grateful for the contribution from Harrogate Town:
"I want to say a huge thank you to Harrogate Town for supporting us as part of Kit Out the Nation,” Mr. Wilson said.
“The equipment and kit that we’ve seen at our tournament, it’s left the student’s faces absolutely beaming. The equipment will definitely make a big difference to our kids’ lives.”
“When we spoke to the students and they realised they could take the kit home, they literally couldn’t believe it,” Mr. Wilson added.
“It made their day and a number of them go and watch Harrogate Town at weekends.
“The kids have said to us they go but don’t have the kit. Now they’ll have that and they’re a part of that barmy army that absolutely go wild in that stand. Now they can be bouncing with their Harrogate kit on.
“You could see the pride of the kids wearing the shirts, the pride in the badge. They love Harrogate Town, they love being part of this school and I think for them to now go home to their parents with the kit, it’s a massive, massive benefit.”
#ProudToBeTown