Thousands of Sports Kits Donated at Leeds Kit Swap Event

Community groups and schools receive over 3,000 pieces of sports equipment

More than 3,400 pieces of sports kit were donated to community groups, schools, and local residents across Leeds during a recent kit swap event held at the John Charles Centre for Sport. The initiative aimed to improve access to sports equipment for those who may face financial barriers or lack access to suitable kit.

Details of the kit swap event

The event was organised by the Kit Equipment Exchange Partnership (KEEP), a collaboration of several organisations including Active Leeds, Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Zero Waste Leeds, Leeds United Foundation, Leeds Rhinos, Action for Sport, Freedom4Girls, Wear & Share Leeds, and Run For All. The donated items included sports tops, bottoms, jackets, trainers, sports bras, and cricket gear, with some items brand new and others lightly used.

• A total of 3,400 pieces of kit were distributed.
• 300 items were donated after being left behind at the Leeds Marathon on 10 May.
• Over 50 organisations and local residents collected the donated equipment.

Beneficiaries and impact

The donated kit will support a diverse range of groups within Leeds, including:

• Children and young people
• Looked after children
• Women and girls
• LGBTQ+ groups
• People attending substance misuse groups
• Residents in the most deprived areas of the city

The event also contributed to environmental sustainability by preventing approximately 1,496kg of clothing and equipment from going to landfill. It is estimated that the value of the donated items saved recipients around £57,902, based on average retail costs.

Community feedback

Jonathon Burn, representing Dixons Unity Academy, highlighted the positive impact of the event on his community. He noted that the cricket equipment and uniforms collected would help remove financial barriers for students, enabling greater participation in sports fixtures and activities. According to him, access to appropriate pads, helmets, and uniforms fosters confidence and inclusion among young people.

Libby Cotter and Megan Greaves from Active Leeds commented on the collaborative nature of the event, emphasising the value of partners, community leaders, teachers, and residents coming together to support each other through the donation and exchange of sports kit.

Council perspective

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, welcomed the return of the kit swap event following its successful pilot in 2025. She stressed the importance of removing financial barriers to sport and praised KEEP’s role in preventing waste and promoting equality of access to physical activity.

She added that tackling inequalities remains a key priority for the council and that partnerships such as KEEP are vital to improving access to sport across Leeds.