# BBC Radio stations invite donations of children’s sports kit

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/28/bbc-radio-stations-invite-donations-of-childrens-sports-kit/
- Published: 2021-09-28T17:51:14+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**BBC Radio’s Make A Difference campaign has launched Kit Out the Nation to secure
unwanted children’s sports kit and distribute it to children and teenagers who need
it most.**

The appeal was launched his month to tackle the reduction in daily activity achieved
by many children.

In July a DCMS select committee report, using data from Sport England, said that
100,000 fewer children met the recommended level of 60 minutes’ activity each day
in 2020 than in 2019. The pandemic has also reduced children’s access to sports 
facilities and made it harder for many families to afford sports kit and equipment.

The [BBC’s Kit Out The Nation](http://bbc.co.uk/makeadifference) aims to help improve
the situation across the UK. It is being broadcast on all 39 local BBC radio stations
and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will run until October.

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12 January 2021)

## ⏎ Distributing donated sports kit to those who need it

The BBC is working with partners around the country. It is inviting the public to
donate unwanted, good-condition sports kit so that it can be distributed to children
and teenagers who need it most.

Chris Burns, Head of Audio and Digital for BBC England said:

> “Make A Difference has been a phenomenal success during lockdown and I am proud
> that all 39 local BBC radio station will be involved in helping young people get
> access to sports kit and equipment they need to get fit and stay healthy through
> Kit Out The Nation.”

The [Make a Difference campaign](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1RvmVJyvX0PYv2vxG4rRbQS/kit-out-the-nation)
is calling on audiences to donate spare kit and equipment, as well as calling on
companies and charities willing to offer their premises for donations, collections
and distribution of the clean kit.

There are many donation points across the UK, where companies and organisations 
have offered their space and facilities to collect sports kit. The BBC has, however,
asked that donations are not delivered to its offices as it is not in a position
to process them.

## Make A Difference

Launched by all 39 BBC local radio stations in March 2020, Make A Difference is 
a virtual noticeboard for those offering help and those needing support. To date
over 5.5 million people have now either called, texted, or messaged their local 
BBC radio station, helping to pull communities together and filling the airwaves
with uplifting stories of the kindness of strangers.

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