Former England captain Millie Bright has helped hand out new kit to grassroots football teams in Leeds as part of an initiative aimed at keeping girls in sport for longer.
Thirty teams based in communities facing social or economic challenges were chosen by anti-discrimination charity Kick it Out for the donation.
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Bright, who began her career at Doncaster Belles, said it was “vital” to keep girls playing sport.
“Every young girl deserves a kit, no matter what level they play at, and, whilst the top of the game is doing really well, real life still exists. People can’t afford to give their children kits, but that doesn’t mean they should go without.”
Craig Gilmore set up Champions CIC, in Beeston, six years ago, to provide free Saturday morning training for children in the local area, as well as breakfast and lunch.
“With the cost of living, football’s expensive [and] bills come first,” he said.
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“We work with a lot of families that can’t afford the direct debits and the ongoing costs of grassroots sport nowadays.
“The new kit is amazing. It gives them that sense of belonging, that team pride, it’s a massive boost for them.”
The new kit was provided by Kick it Out, in partnership with the Morrisons Foundation.
They hope it will inspire these girls to continue sport as young women and adults.
“Girls’ participation struggles with drop-out rates,” said Gemma Clark, from Kick it Out.
“One of the barriers is kit. We want to remove that barrier so that more local girls can keep playing.”
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Bright told the BBC she was fully behind the campaign.
“As a girl or a woman, it’s about feeling wanted and equal,” she said.
“We deserve to have kits. I don’t want to see any girl dropping out of the game because they don’t feel valued or comfortable.
“These are the days that really make a difference. Hopefully this shows the girls that the people at the top care. The power of having a kit is a small gesture, but has a massive impact.”
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