Harrogate donations help disadvantaged children participate in sport
Spare football boots and kit are being collected.
A Harrogate football coach has been collecting boots and kits to donate to the UK Action for Sport scheme.
The scheme provides disadvantaged children with equipment and sportswear so they can participate in sporting activities.
20% of children in Harrogate are classed as living in poverty, according to the coordinator of the donations, Paul Barker.
Paul, who is also Harrogate Town’s under-19s coach, set up the collection to fight local poverty.
He said: “Community support is vital for these initiatives to succeed but as usual the Harrogate community stepped up and was very generous.
"The Covid pandemic has highlighted great disparities in our society. Hopefully through collecting not just football boots but rugby boots and sports footwear, we can help children who have found a barrier to sports participation get involved and enjoy sport, and all the benefits this brings.
"Participation in sport has always had numerous benefits, from a mental and physical wellness perspective, to wider benefits on society. It also helps develop social skills, builds confidence, and creates friendships that can last a lifetime."
Football boots, rugby boots and other sports footwear are all examples of items donated by the community.
The UK Government has issued financial support advice, to help families impact by the pandemic. This can be found here.