The new Thank You certificates are now back from our printers and ready to hand out to everyone who supports KitAid in 2020.

They look great and even better when framed and hanging with pride on a clubhouse or school wall. To become a member of this exclusive club simply donate a decent amount of kit or go that extra mile to support our work.

We would like to thank our designer, Carole Parsons, for her work, but also for taking on the job while on holiday in New Zealand.

To any Regional Helpers who have not yet received your batch of certificates in the post, please let us know.

We would like to say a massive thank you to Phil Sharpe for a fantastic donation of full referee kits for our friends from FOMO Malawi. The referees often get overlooked and it is hard to provide them with proper kit.

Phil has gone above and beyond by providing referee shirts, shorts and socks as well as the latest Rule books, whistles, cards and sets of linesman flags. Richard Shumba one of the referees based in Mulanje said he is overjoyed and cannot wait to run out in proper kit. Photos will follow once the kit has found its way to Malawi in a few months time.

Some of you will know Phil through his work at Hertfordshire FA, but not everyone will be aware that he received the highest accolade possible in his career as a linesman, by being chosen to run the line in the 2002 World Cup Final in Japan. Thanks Phil, we all appreciate your kind support.

After our most successful year in 2019, when 86,445 items of kit were donated across the developing world, the new decade has started well. At our first boxing up session of 2020, 4,900 items of kit were sorted and boxed by our team of wonderful volunteers.

We were also helped by the Watford FC Community Trust loaning us the use of their minibus to transport kit from our container in Hemel Hempstead to Hatfield. Many thanks to them and to Barry, our volunteer driver. A big thank you also to our wonderful couriers, PCS Logistics Ltd, who delivered five pallets of Cardiff City kit to the session.

The boxing up sessions work like clockwork thanks to the volunteers who get through a mountain of kit in 3 hours. If you would like volunteer and help out at a session please email kitaidcharity@gmail.com.

Here’s to reaching 1Million items by 2024!

KitAid is delighted to announce that singer/songwriter, actress and model, Mary HD, has accepted our invitation to become the charity’s first Ambassador.

Since the Trustees agreed not to replace the role of Patron, in honour of Graham Taylor OBE, we have decided to invite a select number of Ambassadors, who we feel represent the ethos, vision and values of KitAid.

About Mary HD
Mary HD started her career at the age of 15 as a fashion model, which led to her appearing in major campaigns and magazines, including Marie Claire, Elle, and Cosmopolitan, as well as travelling throughout Europe for photo shoots. However, her main passion has always been music, as a singer/songwriter. This has involved working with musicians and record producers whose back catalogue includes artists such as George Michael (RIP), James Brown (RIP), Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner. Mary has performed across Europe and has a following in America, following the release of a number of singles and the highly acclaimed debut album “Resolute”. Her latest single releases in April 2019, include I Am The War and North Star, taken from her equally successful album Pure Love, covering a theme of overcoming, resilience, faith over fear and believing in one’s visions. Further releases from this album are to follow.

Charity Work
Mary is an avid charity worker, supporting a number of key issues which are all close to her heart. She became the first Patron of the John Bury Trust and S.E.E.D (Support and Education for Eating disorders) and she was invited by the Prince’s Trust to work on a project entitled “Dreams”. Mary wrote the music for this, and also coached 10 girls between the ages of 16-25, to assist with confidence and to help raise their self-esteem. The girls performed alongside Mary HD for HRH Prince Charles at Turf Moor stadium, Burnley. Mary also released a charity single “Malaria No More”, orchestrated a campaign “The Mary HD Send a Heart Campaign” which was sponsored by John Lewis in Partnership and received support from well- known celebrities including Tinchy Stryder, Amir King Khan and Sajid Mahmood among others. The campaign raised funds for the special baby care charity Bliss. In recognition of her support of the Prince’s Trust and for her charity work Mary was invited to Buckingham Palace.

“We are both delighted and excited that Mary HD has accepted our invitation to become an Ambassador for KitAid. She reaches out to a new audience who otherwise may not get to hear about our work. She also represents a lot of girls and women who will aspire to her values and she can act as a “mentor in kind” to the many young women we support through our work across the developing world. We look forward to working with Mary and to introducing her to the projects KitAid supports.” — Derrick Williams MBE, KitAid

‘’It is a distinct honour to be invited as Ambassador for KitAid, an immense dream come true and I am very excited to be able to highlight KitAids incredible work that they do providing hope, joy, breaking down barriers and making a difference. Through my own personal experiences and those of my mothers, I am a huge advocate of female empowerment and I am delighted to accept my position with KitAid. It is the love that is shared, which builds the bridge towards a better world and future for all of humanity. I look very forward to support and commence my work with KitAids projects” — Mary HD

For further information about Mary HD please see: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Photo credit: Greg Couzens