Staffordshire FA are delighted to be supporting the BBC with their ‘Kit out the Nation’ campaign.

The campaign will be running for six weeks, up until 16 October, and involves taking in unwanted sports kit which is still in good condition and distributing it to children and teenagers who need it. At a time when the pandemic has seen levels of exercise among young people plummet in many communities, a campaign such as this has never been more needed.

Several venues across Staffordshire have, or will be, signing up to the initiative as a location for clubs to drop-off any unwanted kit – including the Staffordshire FA office. We will continue to update this page over the coming days as we’re made aware of more venues in Staffordshire who have signed up as a drop-off location.

In the meantime, please find below some additional information regarding the campaign and how clubs can get involved in supporting the campaign. 

What is the 'Kit Out the Nation' campaign? 

Kit Out the Nation' is a BBC Make a Difference campaign aimed at taking in and distributing unwanted, good condition sports kit and getting it to children and teenagers who need it. It will mirror the 'Give a Laptop' campaign, working with partners around the country.

What is the purpose of the campaign? 

There is a long-standing issue around access to sport and exercise because of the affordability of kit. The situation has been compounded by the pandemic and this is our chance to help to improve that situation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee published a report on 29th July 2021 where they said data from Sport England showing 100,000 fewer children met the recommended level of activity in 2020 than in 2019 was "of significant concern". There are other benefits – it's recycling on a grand scale. Good condition equipment that would otherwise go to landfill getting an extended life, it benefits the environment.

How can I help/support the campaign?

If you have any old or unused sports kit in good condition that can be passed on to groups in need of a little extra support to get children and teenagers playing sport, you can drop the kit off at your nearest location, who will then work closely with the BBC to distribute the kit.

We will update this page as and when we’re made aware of any additional venues in Staffordshire who have signed up to the campaign, but in the meantime, please find below a list of venues across Staffordshire, including the Staffordshire FA office, where you can drop kit into. 

• Staffordshire FA
Dyson Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0LQ (9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am – 4pm on Friday)

• Burton Albion FC and Burton Albion Community Trust 
https://www.burtonalbioncommunitytrust.co.uk/local-bbc-radio-launches-a-campaign-to-help-young-people-get-active/

• Port Vale Foundation and The Hubb Foundation
https://www.thehubbfoundation.com/kitoutthenation

• Tamworth Community Together CIC 
http://www.communitytogethercic.org.uk/

• Stoke-on-Trent Mothers Support Network
https://www.sotmotherssupportnetwork.co.uk/general-8

• Meadowside Leisure Centre (Burton-upon-Trent)
https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/meadowside-leisure-centre/

• Shobnall Leisure Complex (Burton-upon-Trent) 
https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/shobnall-leisure-complex/

• Uttoxeter Leisure Centre
https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/uttoxeter-leisure-centre/

Where can I find out more information?

For further information on the Kit out the Nation campaign, please CLICK HERE to visit the BBC website.