Kit Link Wirral – an opportunity to share

Welcome to Kit Link, our new and exciting sports based recycling scheme. Kit Link offers Wirral residents the opportunity to recycle and reuse new and used sports equipment and clothing.

The aim of the scheme is to provide much needed equipment to adults and children across Wirral who are prevented from accessing sports and physical activity due to the cost of clothing and equipment whilst increasing the lifespan of the goods and ultimately reducing carbon emissions and waste.  

How does it work?

  1. Donate: Collection points are created in key locations across Wirral for residents to donate Sports kit and equipment 
  2. Reuse: The Kit is checked for viability and allocated for distribution to groups or individuals who require the goods
  3. Be Active: The user can then engage in the physical activity that they previously couldn’t access and the Kit is reused.

Your help and generosity during these tough times will help:

  • Tackle the cost barrier preventing people from accessing sport and physical activity.
  • Increase the lifespan of sports clothing and equipment and thus reduce the need to purchase brand new goods.
  • Reduce the need to manufacture new goods, meaning fewer carbon emissions and waste ending up in landfill.

We know that your donations will benefit our communities and help to make a difference to the lives of inactive children and adults across Wirral. Please bear in mind that there may be some items we cannot accept for safety, legality and hygienic reasons. Please view our list of acceptable and non acceptable items before donating. 

JOIN US FOR OUR LAUNCH EVENT – Wednesday 29th March

The Kit Link scheme will be launched by the WBC Graduate team at Cheshire Lines Building on Wednesday 29th March 2023 between 12 – 2pm. All employees are welcome to attend to find out more about and see what you can do to help. Collection bins will be on site to start collecting on the day. 

What will happen at the launch: 

  • Learn more about the project from the team
  • Hear from Assistant Director of Parks & Environment, Mike Cockburn at 12.30pm
  • Donate unwanted sports clothing and equipment that are in good, reusable condition
  • Meet other members of staff to discuss your sporting hobbies.

*After this date, the donation stations will be in the 2nd floor canteen in Cheshire Lines for the next 3 weeks.                               

Please deposit items into the donation bin, once the bin becomes filled, it will be moved onto the leisure centres for storage.

Your feedback will be invaluable to us to model Kit Link for the future.

Kit Link – what items are accepted:

Ball sports

  • Footballs, rugby balls,
  • Shin pads
  • Goalkeeper gloves
  • Boots
  • Clothing: shorts, t-shirts, team kits

Cricket

  • Cricket balls
  • Bats
  • Bags
  • Stumps, guards
  • Gloves, pads

Martial Arts

  • Gloves, pads
  • Martial arts robes
  • Shin guards

Racket  Sports

  • Rackets (tennis, badminton, table tennis, squash etc.)
  • Balls
  • Trainers, bags

Golf

  • Clubs
  • Balls
  • Bags

Water sports

  • Wetsuits
  • Swimming caps, goggles,
  • Pool floats, diving toys

Athletics

  • Running shoes
  • Shorts, t-shirts

Misc

  • Skipping ropes (untangled)
  • Fitness DVDs (checked in working order)
  • Hula hoops
  • Roller blades, roller skates, skateboards
  • Bike pumps/other air pumps

This list is non-exhaustive. Additional items may be accepted providing they are sports/fitness related and are safe, hygienic, useable and of appropriate quality.

Items that we do not accept include:

Hygiene

  • Gum shields
  • Swimwear
  • Trainer socks
  • Sweatbands
  • Towels
  • Items with visible sweat stains

Legal

  • Sports nutrition (protein, consumable supplements, drinks) (not suitable for under 18s)
  • Martial arts, or other sports equipment deemed dangerous (nun chucks, fencing swords,
  • shooting equipment, including bows)

Undesirable

  • Clothing in very worn condition or with visible stains
  • Chalk of any kind
  • Footballs, rugby balls etc. with any excessive wear and tear
  • Clothing or kit with specific club logos
  • ‘As seen on TV’ items
  • Any rusted items (scooter, pogo sticks etc)

Safety

  • Electronics/media of any kind
  • Heavy weights (over 3kg)
  • Items requiring 2 or more people to lift
  • Armbands or any inflatables
  • Ice skates
  • Safety pads, helmets

This list is non-exhaustive. Please do not donate anything you consider to be unsafe, unusable, undesirable or unhygienic.