WHAT IS SOS

soskitaid

What is SOS/iRB Kit Aid?

Mission Statement

SOS/iRB Kit Aid is a "green" rugby project that gives less advantaged children around the world a chance to play and develop rugby in emerging nations through the collection and distribution of unused/unwanted recycled rugby kit from the UK and Ireland. Since 2000 SOS has saved nearly 60,000kgs of quality rugby kit from being thrown needlessly into scarce, environmentally damaging UK landfill sites.In just 10 years we have supplied over £2million pounds worth of quality rugby kit to some 16 emerging rugby nations on 3 continents and we have 57 more on our waiting list !

 

  

Background

Grass Roots

SOS/iRB Kit SOS Kit Aid  was founded by a rugby dad, (John Broadfoot), who saw for himself the plight of Romanian youngsters during a school rugby tour to Romania. The sight of a smiling Romanian eight year old boy running with the ball under one arm whilst he used the other to hold up his shorts made him want to do something about it.

From the experience of his own rugby playing sons he knew there were several pairs of boots and shirts lying around at home doing nothing. So to test out the potential John collected kit from just ten schools to see how much kit might be available on a wider scale. The test was an outstanding success both in terms of quantity and quality of kit donated and John persuaded the International Rugby Board to endorse and fund the project's expansion to 1000+ schools and Clubs.

 

IRB Sponsorship

International Rugby Board Logo

 

Financial support and recognition was given to the project by the iRB (International Rugby Board) - the world's governing body for Rugby Union. Their funding helps to cover the cost of storage and the logistics of collecting and transporting kit to the countries that need it the most.The iRB have additionally provided endorsed by allowing us to use their branding in partnership with SOS, which significantly helps raise the profile of the project throughout the rugby community 


 

Aims of the project

One of the strengths of the project is that SOS only collects kit and equipment and not money, we don't ask for financial public donations, just your unused/unwanted kit.

The collection of kit:

(ALL SIZES From 8 to 18 year olds)CLEAN rugby shirts (preferably in team sets)

  • CLEAN rugby shorts/socks (PREFERABLY IN TEAM SETS)
  • CLEAN rugby boots (preferably with 99% studs in) from sizes 4 to 11
  • CLEAN rugby balls/ball bags
  • CLEAN rugby tracksuits
  • CLEAN rugby head/shoulder protectors
  • CLEAN rugby tackle bags/pads
  • CLEAN rugby wet tops/bottoms
  • CLEAN training tops
  • CLEAN training cones

The primary collection approach is to publicise collection points and drop points and to encourage Kit Aid supporters to bring their unused/unwanted kit to these points. Often these are coordinated to coincide with other events and fixtures at clubs such as boot barrel collection days.In addition, direct approaches to schools, clubs and commercial organisations gives rise to donation of other equipment and full sets of kit.      

 

Get your kit out!