Recycle your cricket kit!

31 Jul 2022   |   By Kirsty Sockett

What is sports kit recycling?

The Lord’s Taverners sports kit recycling programme collects usable kit from across the UK through a network of local collection hubs.  These items are then sorted and redistributed, to organisations within the UK and around the world, who can put them to great use in their communities.

How does it help young people?

Many young people, in the UK and abroad, find it hard to access sport, with one of the main barriers being a simple lack of access to the right kit and equipment. By re-using these good condition items, it diverts them away from landfill sites, and into the possession of projects, groups and individuals who can benefit so much from them.

Having the correct kit gives more young people the opportunity to play team sports and develop crucial life skills such as teamwork, communication, confidence; alongside improving their overall health and wellbeing.

In recent years, the charity has sent large amounts of kit to projects in Germany, Antigua, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and across the UK.

To view the impact your donated kit can have, watch our promotional video: Sports Recycling Video

How can you donate?

Our collection hubs are situated all over the UK and you can donate your unwanted, usable sports kit, to your nearest hub, which you can find here:  Hubs Herefordshire.  

Alternatively, send your donation directly to our re-distribution warehouse, located in Suffolk:

Unit 8 Yale Business Park, Bluestem Road, Ransomes Industrial Estate, Ipswich, IP3 9RR

We ask all donors to follow these simple rules, before donating kit and/or visiting your nearest collection hub:

-          Please ensure that all items are properly cleaned and usable

-          Agree a mutual date and time to drop off your donation

-          All clothing/equipment must be in a sealed container, box or bag

-          When handling containers/bags, please wear gloves/face masks

-          If directed by collection hub, place donation in designated collection zone

-          The collection hub has the right to refuse any donation on our behalf, if the above steps aren’t followed

For a full list of what we do and don't collect, please see our collection standards document here.

Could you be a collection hub?

In order to receive more donations, the Lord’s Taverners are seeking to establish a network of collection hubs in each County.  If there isn’t a suitable location near you, why not apply to become a collection point.  This can be your cricket club, school, shop, office or even your home!!

Don’t worry, you won’t be inundated with sports kit every day! Most of our hubs are set up to receive kit, during specific times of the year, which co-insides with the start and close of the UK County cricket season.

Can we apply for kit?

For UK deliveries, we look to work with cricket clubs or youth organisations (especially those in economically deprived areas) who wish to develop their junior and youth sections.

To find out more or request an application form, please contact Dave Pemberton

More information

If you would like general information on how to get involved with our sports kit recycling program,  please visit the Lord’s Taverners website here