Michael Carrick Foundation has launched its annual campaign, Carrick’s Boot Room, in a bid to ensure youngsters have access to the equipment they need to be able to take part in sport and reach their full potential.
Running throughout October, the football boot amnesty, supported by Trafford Leisure, MLILY, Manchester United Foundation, Wallsend Boys Club and Newcastle United Foundation, plans to reach more children than ever before.
During the campaign, the Foundation is calling upon people to find their unwanted or outgrown football boots and astro trainers and donate them at one of the thirty-two designated drop off points.
The 2019 Boot Room follows an extremely successful launch last year, in which more than one thousand pairs of boots were donated. Building on this, the Foundation have increased the number of drop off locations in Manchester, Trafford and Stockport, whilst also expanding into Tyne and Wear, another place close to Carrick’s heart.
Talking about this year’s Boot Room, Michael Carrick commented: “The Foundation is really excited to be able to build on last year’s success here in Manchester and expand the campaign to Tyne and Wear. It is essential that inadequate footwear is not a barrier to participation in sport and any donated boots really will make a huge difference to the children who need them most.”
Every pair of donated boots will be thoroughly checked, cleaned and re-laced, ready to be redistributed to children at community football sessions, schools and grassroots clubs.
Reflecting on last year, Carrick said: “We were humbled by the sheer volume of boots kindly donated last year and were thrilled to be able to gift a pair of ‘new to you’ boots to every participant at our Manchester funded sessions. However, with children outgrowing their boots every six to 12 months, we wanted the campaign to become an annual event and ensure that every child can continue to take part and enjoy sport with their peers.”
Jo Cherrett, COO Trafford Leisure, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the Michael Carrick Foundation again this year and I am grateful to Life Leisure, MCR Active and Altrincham Football Club in helping to increase the number of locations available for donating boots.
"We both believe that all children, no matter their background or ability, should have access to the correct equipment they need to be able to participate and to be the best they can be. Donating boots is a simple and effective way of getting the appropriate footwear to local children and ensuring their experience of sport is a positive one. We look forward to collecting and storing the boots, as well as subsidising the marketing and promotion of the Boot Room Campaign on behalf of the Michael Carrick Foundation.”
GREATER MANCHESTER DROP OFFS
Trafford:
Trafford Leisure Altrincham Golf Course,
Trafford Leisure Altrincham Leisure Centre
Trafford Leisure Sale Altrincham Leisure Centre
Trafford Leisure Stretford Sports Barn
Trafford Leisure Partington Leisure Centre
Trafford Leisure Urmston Leisure Centre.
Trafford Leisure The Grammar
Altrincham Football Club
Stockport:
Houldsworth Village
Stockport Sports Village
Manchester:
Ardwick Sports Centre
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Hough End Leisure Centre
HSBC UK National Cycling Centre
Abraham Moss Library and Leisure Centre
North City Family and Fitness Centre
East Manchester Leisure Centre
Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre
Active Lifestyle Centre
Wythenshawe Forum Leisure Centre
Box Football, Cheadle Hulme
TYNE AND WEAR DROP OFFS
Co-op Stores
Hexham West Street, Hexham NE46 3BH
Wylam Main Rd, Wylam NE41 8DN
Prudhoe Oakfield Terrace Prudhoe NE42 5HF
Low Fell 459-463 Durham Rd, Gateshead NE9 5EX
Bedlington Netherton Lane, Bedlington, NE22 6DZ
Wooler 10 Market Pl, Wooler NE71 6LH
Seahouses 41 Main St, Seahouses NE68 7RF
Alnwick 48 Bondgate Within, Alnwick NE66 1JD
Morpeth Morpeth NE61 2FD
Ponteland15 Broadway, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9PW
Sports Venues
The Parks, Howdon Rd, North Shields NE29 6TL
Gateshead Redheugh, Eslington Pavillion, Eslington Park, Bolam St, Gateshead NE8 2TQ
Wallsend Boys Club
Kirkley Park, Rheydt Ave, Wallsend NE28 8SX
Check out last year's boot room giveaway!