'Boots for Youth 2.0' relaunches to help young people access sports
People with spare football boots in the West Country are being asked to donate
A scheme, first launched in 2021, is returning this summer with the hope of having more young people access football.
An Avon and Somerset Officer is bringing back Boots for Youths, to try remove barriers stopping some disadvantaged children from joining in with football.
They're asking for donations of old football boots, which can be handed out to those who need them.
Back in 2021, hundreds of pairs of boots were donated under the first running of the scheme.
Neighbourhood Constable Ryan Day, who works as an engagement and prevention officer with schools in Bristol, created the “Caring for the Community: Football Boots Initiative”.
“Boots for Youth 2.0” begins this week and will run throughout the summer holidays, with pre-approved drop-off points set up for people to donate their old or unused football boots.
PC Day explained: “Football boots can often run to around £100 a pair which is simply unaffordable for many families amid the current cost-of-living crisis.
“Kids’ feet grow so quickly that a pair of boots are often outgrown before they’ve reached the end of their useful life. This scheme is about giving another young person the opportunity to make use of them.
“I hope that the re-launch of the Boots for Youth Scheme will mean fewer boots thrown out and more young people able to take part in sports where they otherwise might have had to sit out.
“I think it’s a really simple way for families with unwanted boots to give back to the community and improve the lives of others.”
This time around, to maximise the life of the boots, the donations will be provided to a selection of local schools so that each has a ‘pool’ of boots available to borrow for the new school year.
Any donated boots need to be weatherproof, in good condition and in Sizes 4 – 11.
Where can boots be dropped off?
The boots can be dropped off at the following locations from Tuesday 18 July:
Keynsham Police Centre
Ashmead Rd, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1SA
Patchway Police Centre
90 Gloucester Rd, Patchway, Little Stoke, Bristol BS34 6PY
Bridewell Police Centre
One Bridewell Street, The Bridewell, Bridewell St, Bristol BS1 2AA
Broadbury Road Police Station
Broadbury Rd, Bristol BS4 1JT
Nailsea Police Station
Pound Lane, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 2NN
Bridgwater Police Centre
Express Park, Bristol Rd, Bridgwater TA6 4RR