Launched in October 2019 by Neath-born founder Carl Bradley, the charity focuses on breaking down barriers to football by providing free boots and sports clothing to young footballers in need.
The community project has now donated over 4,500 unwanted football and rugby boots to families to help more children take part in sport.
Carl’s idea for ‘The Boot Room’ resulted from a conversation between parents about the cost of a sports kit. Carl was coaching for his son’s football club and he decided to launch the project, with the aim of ensuring that local community players are not prevented from participating in sport due to lack of equipment.
Initially on social media, the project now operates from more than 10 locations across Wales, providing a place for people to drop off and collect boots for free, and Carl works closely with clubs including Swansea FC. The initiative has also been extended to include ‘The Kit Room’ which repurposes old kits, allowing families in need to access kit and boots for their children.
With the cost-of-living crisis hitting all working families, now more than ever the charity’s importance to maximise their reach to as many people as possible is critical Bradley feels.
“The need for boots is massive in all areas of Wales. We have just opened our fourth Boot Room here in Margam and our tenth in total across the UK,” said Bradley.
“We also have one in Briton Ferry and two in Swansea – Pure Football and one in Mumbles. There is a need for it everywhere.
“This is not just about unemployed families or people who are on low income, it’s about parents who are working full time with two jobs that simply cannot afford the cost of changing boots for kids every few months. They are extortionately priced, and the problem is only going to get worse with the cost of living rising so fast.
“Not only does this take a bit of the burden off the parents, when you see how much we are donating it stops them going straight into the bin to landfill.”
Alongside ‘The Boot Room’, Carl has also raised over £350,000 for Welsh charities through running challenges.
The award for Carl coincided with St David’s Day, the patron saint of Wales where he would be the 2,279th person to be recognised with the award since 2014, but the first Welshman to be awarded on the Wales’ national day.
“I’m so grateful and proud to have been nominated for such an amazing honour, continued Carl.
“Things like this never happen, and I’m still in shock that all this has happened to me. I’m proud to have such a great team who are always by my side.
“We drive a much needed project into the community, the heart of where it’s needed. Thank you, every community needs a volunteer. We can make a difference.”
If you would like to donate any kit or boots to the Boot Room a list of drop-off locations can be found below.
- Underhill Park, Newton Road, Mumbles, SA3 4SL
- Swansea.com Stadium Club Shop, SA1 2FA
- Macron Sports Hub, Neath SA10 7BR
- The Vernon Place Hub, SA11 2JJ
- Pure Football Swansea, SA5 7HR
- Britton Ferry Llansawel FC, SA11 2HA
- Llandarcy Academy of Sport, SA10 6JD
Find out more about ‘The Boot Room’
[Lead image: the Boot Room]
