KitAid Monthly Update – July 2025

Hi all,

July was another really busy month with over 30 visits to the containers to either drop kit off or to meet charities to hand kit over.  Here are the latest monthly totals

Total items of kit donated in July  –  9,080
Total items of kit donated in 2025  –  58,180
Total items of kit donated since 1998  – 1,184,126

Our next target of reaching 1,250,000 items donated is now on the horizon for mid 2026.

Hatfield Boxing Up

A date has been booked for Saturday 20 September so please block the morning out in your diary if you attend the sessions at Hatfield. There is a complication as the big front glass doors are due to be replaced on a Saturday morning but as yet, the date hasn’t been confirmed.  If it does turn out to be the same day as our session we will need to work around it and use the “Deliveries” area at the back of the building to hand boxes over to the charities.  Fingers crossed it will happen before our session and I will send out the invitations soon.

A lot of kit has arrived in Liverpool and Richie is working with a friend to store it away from St Luke’s at Goodison with the possibility of holding a kit sorting session in October. It would be great to see some of our “northern” volunteers at the session and once the date and venue is confirmed I will let you know.

WhatsApp Group

Thanks to those of you who joined the new KitAid WhatsApp group.

It is a really good way of receiving news quickly as well as pictures and film clips. If you are a WhatsApp user please join via the following link https://chat.whatsapp.com/Du6fCBINJzOFopcvYq9VRs?mode=ac_t

KitAid Grants

Although as a charity KitAid does not receive any grants or funding we somehow manage to give out small grants to partner projects we value.  So far this year we have made the following grants :-

£1,000 to Ballysillan YFC Belfast for the week long football camp recently held.
£1,000 to Bulindi Chimpanzee protection project in Uganda  for the 3 month football tournament.
£1,000 to Harry Mnisi Foundation in South Africa for the multi sports day in December.

We are proud to support long term partner charities where we can.

Ricky Road Run/ Sir Mo Farah

You may have seen the recent film clip Mo Farah recorded for us to promote the 41st Ricky Road Run on 26 October.  It was really good of him to do this, especially as he was on holiday. We are lucky to have built a good relationship with him.

Calling all runners who are fit enough to run 10 miles, please consider entering this event as we are one of the charities they are supporting. I have also been asked if we can find some marshals to help out on the day.  This is a crucial role to the success of the event and to the safety of the runners. It is also good fun and if you can help please let me know.  See www.rickyroadrun.co.uk for further information and entry form.

A shorter update this month but please tune in to the social media sites as stories are posted most days. Also, please join the WhatsApp group for even more news, – https://chat.whatsapp.com/Du6fCBINJzOFopcvYq9VRs?mode=ac_t

As ever, a massive thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters, as without you, the wheels would not turn and the kit would not be collected and donated.

Have a great August

Derrick