A groundbreaking Leeds City Council-led partnership tackling inequality through sport has won an international award.
The Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership, created by Leeds City Council’s Active Leeds service, sees recycled or unwanted sports kit distributed to deprived communities in the city.
A first such partnership of its kind, the innovative project addresses inequality through supporting active lifestyles and also helps to tackle the climate crisis through recycling and significantly reducing waste, aiding the city’s environmental and net zero aims.
The work of the partnership was recognised on a global level last week by winning the ‘Purpose-led Partnership’ category at the prestigious Sport Positive Awards 2024 in London, seeing off international competition from major projects around the world to win the prize.
The Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership is made up of Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Zero Waste Leeds, Action For Sport, Run for all, Leeds United Foundation, The Recovery Runners, Leeds Dock Run Club, Leeds City College, LS-TEN Skate Park, Pendle Sports, British Cycling and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation.
Working together to maximise all available assets, the partnership responds to the needs of diverse communities in Leeds to provide appropriate sports attire and remove the stigma associated with recycled kit.
The partnership in Leeds was initially inspired by the BBC’s ‘Kit out the Nation’ campaign which ran in 2021, and has developed in the years since with more than 20,000 items of kit recycled or reused by community groups in the city.
As well as encouraging healthy active lifestyles, the project also helps to reduce landfill through a more environmentally-sustainable approach, supporting local organisations in creating their own kit donation schemes, reducing waste, and creating a community-driven circular economy promoting inclusive growth.
Chief executive of Yorkshire Sport Foundation Nigel Harrison said: “We’re proud to share this award with our incredible partners across the city. This project shows the strength in working together to address inequalities, stop waste, and remove a barrier to people playing sport or being physically active.
“The right kit and equipment comes at a cost, and this partnership is ensuring that more people in Leeds aren’t prevented from starting something new or continuing something they love because they can’t afford a pair of trainers or a piece of sports equipment.
“One of the best things about this recognition is that it will raise even more awareness of the initiative. With the continued commitment of the organisations involved and the support of the people of Leeds, the kit exchange partnership can make a positive impact on even more lives.”
