Public encouraged to donate sportswear

A SCHEME has been launched to encourage people to donate their unwanted sports clothes and help other folk in the community to be more active, with six new drop boxes now located across the island.

Information from those working with young people and adults shows that one of the barriers to people on low incomes getting into sport and physical activity can be the cost of trainers and suitable clothing.

The public are being asked to donate unwanted sports gear by dropping the items into the boxes.

The idea is being backed by local retailers Intersport and Cee & Jays, who have already donated a range of clothing. Local athletes James Aitken (football), Clair Morris (netball) and Tom Jamieson (athletics) have already shown their support and brought along some of their own donations.

Shetland Islands Council’s sport and physical activities coordinator Lesley Spence said: “This scheme will help those who find it difficult to take part in sports simply because they don’t have suitable clothing or trainers.

“I’m confident that the Shetland public will show their well-known generosity and donate any new or nearly-new items so that others can use them.”

Intersport and Cee & Jays director Ian Pagulayan said: “As a retailer, we want to continue our longstanding support of the local sporting community and fully support the initiative to help those who need it most.

“We offer a wide range of clothing and footwear at a range of prices, but understand that this can still be too expensive for some. We hope our donations of brand new clothing will help kick-start the initiative, and encourage other sportspeople to make their own donations.”

Drop boxes can be found at the Old Library Centre, Gilbertson Park games hall and Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick; the North Mainland Leisure Centre in Brae; and at games halls in Sandwick and Scalloway.

The items will be picked up on Monday 10 April, arranged into suitable bundles and distributed.