Former England captain Millie Bright delivered new football kits to thirty grassroots teams in Leeds in an initiative by Kick it Out and the Morrisons Foundation.
The anti-discrimination charity selected teams from communities facing social or economic challenges. Bright started her career at Doncaster Belles. She visited young footballers in Leeds and said it was vital to keep girls playing sport.
Every young girl deserves a kit, no matter what level they play at, and, whilst the top of the game is doing really well, real life still exists. People can’t afford to give their children kits, but that doesn’t mean they should go without.
Millie Bright, former England captain
Organizers hope the donation will inspire young girls to continue participating in sports. Gemma Clark from Kick it Out said girls’ participation struggles with drop-out rates. She said kit is one of the barriers and Kick it Out wants to remove that barrier so local girls can keep playing.
Bright said the effort centers on helping girls and women feel equal and valued in the game. She said she does not want to see any girl drop out because she feels uncomfortable or unvalued. She called the gesture a small action with a massive impact.
Craig Gilmore established Champions CIC in Beeston six years ago. The organization provides free Saturday morning training alongside breakfast and lunch for local children. He discussed the financial hurdles facing families involved in grassroots sports.
With the cost of living, football’s expensive [and] bills come first. We work with a lot of families that can’t afford the direct debits and the ongoing costs of grassroots sport nowadays. The new kit is amazing. It gives them that sense of belonging, that team pride, it’s a massive boost for them.
Craig Gilmore, Champions CIC
