RAF Shawbury-based football appeal gains charity status after record-breaking 2023
An RAF Shawbury-based football charity has achieved full charitable status following a record-breaking year of football kit donations across the globe in 2023.
The Royal Air Force FA's Taking Football to Africa and Beyond appeal aims to deliver "Aid through Football" to children and adults living in impoverished areas of the world.
The appeal, which was set up in 2006 by Wing Commander Neil Hope and Squadron Leader Mark Smales, was initially intended to deliver kit to Africa.
But it quickly began to help out globally, delivering approximately 371,000 items of kit, including more than 104,000 football shirts to 63 countries worldwide.
The team surpassed the total number of deliveries compared to previous years in 2023, with a total of 31 deliveries being made to 15 countries across the world, with Kenya being the most utilised country through the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) and Braeburn Garden Estate School in Nairobi.
The kits included items donated by football teams and individuals across the United Kingdom, including the English Football Association and Premier League clubs such as Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A mixed military and civilian group of 16 people visited Kenya as part of the appeal team in April 2023, where they delivered a total of 19,000 items, including 5,800 football shirts.
The team also spent two nights at the Restart Centre in the city of Gilgil, a haven for the city's street children,
The centre held a special place in the hearts of the appeal team as it is where Wg Cdr Hope's daughter Charlotte volunteered in 2019 before she was killed in a car crash on 9 April 2022.
Since Charlotte's passing, her parents and friends have raised £52,000 for the Restart Centre which will be used by the centre to fund children through university.
Following this amazing fundraising effort, Charlotte's brother Chris decided to set up Lottie’s Way – The Charlotte Hope Foundation, a charity which will raise funds to help children and adults in Kenya.
Chris has now applied for full charity status after their crowdfunding page successfully reached the £5,000 required in the New Year.
Wg Cdr Hope said: "This continuing success of the appeal is incredible. The hard work of a small team of volunteers is exemplary.
"It has been incredible to also raise such substantial funds for the brilliant Restart Centre. The amount raised will change the lives of so many youngsters who were rescued from the streets.
"Lottie’s Way will now be the lead as the charity and the Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Appeal will be incorporated into the charity, but will not receive any funding. All funds raised will go direct to those who need it, through the agreement of its trustees."
The team will travel to Kenya once again over the Easter period this year.
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