TAKING FOOTBALL TO AFRICA AND
BEYOND APPEAL
2015 ANNUAL REVIEW
The Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Charitable Appeal is operated from RAF
Shawbury in North Shropshire in conjunction with the RAF Football Association. It is
organised by Wing Commander Neil Hope MBE RAFR.
[email protected]
[email protected]
03067707489/07903135508
ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING YEAR
The Appeal is designed to provide Aid across the world through football by collecting
donations of football kit and redistributing them to the needy. 2015 has proved to be another
record breaking year with 24 deliveries in total to 15 countries worldwide.
THE TOTALS
2015
SHIRTS – 7256
OTHER ITEMS – 20124
TOTAL ITEMS – 27380
COUNTRIES – 15
TOTALS TO DATE (Since the Appeal began back in early 2006)
SHIRTS – 42099
OTHER ITEMS – 129838
COUNTRIES - 51
Group at Kandara School – June 2015
Group in Kibagare – June 2015
Deliveries during 2015 have reached 15 countries worldwide: Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica,
Zambia, South Africa, Nepal, Israel, Palestine, UAE, Ukraine, Belarus, Guinea, Lithuania,
Mexico, The Gambia.
KENYA
We managed 2 visits to Kenya during the year. Kenya was, as usual, the country where the
most deliveries went. Tony Kinchley and I visited the country last new year with family and
we completed a full visit in June with 11 people from the RAF, RN and civilian world.
Rotary School in Kibera
Neil King in action ay Juja
Neil Hope at Star Kids in Nairobi
John Robson is swamped at Stella Maris in Mathare, Nairobi
Throughout 2015 we have made a total of 10 deliveries to various parts of the country.
These would not have been possible without the assistance of the guys in Receipt and
Despatch at RAF Shawbury and SAC Will Jones and his team at ATC at RAF Brize Norton
as well as Sgt Emma Craig and Dave Gaylor at Air Exports at RAF Brize Norton. Of course,
nothing at all would happen in Kenya without the superb and continued assistance of John
Herbert, the Executive Head Teacher at Braeburn International School and his team at the
Garden Estate School. We have worked with many charities in Kenya during the year
including:
Gilgil: Sanchat Restart Centre, through the incredible Mary Coulson, Saidia Children’s
Home, Loving Hands, GYSDA, Woodard School
Nairobi: Tushinde, Alive and Kicking Kenya, Mukuru Combine (Embakasi), Kibera Celtic FC
Kibagare Academy through Pastor Amos, Kibagare Good News Centre, Vision Africa, Fred
Akida, Ironstrikers FC, Nicholas Muyoti’s Kenyatta Academy, Hope House Children’s Home
(Mountain View), Porridge and Rice, Stella Maris School(Mathare), Star Kids Academy.
Other parts of Kenya: WIRE Academy and Simon Okolo, Kandara School, Juja Academy,
ASPIRE Academy, Fred Osore, Miriu Schools
Some of the Kenya deliveries in pictures:
Kits donated to Sporting Chance through the Shrewsbury Barnabus Centre
Wolves/Staffs FA/Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA/Shrewsbury Town
ASPIRE ACADEMY – Northern Kenya
Fulham and Millwall kits at Nicholas Muyoti’s Kenyatta Academy
QPR Kits at GYSDA Gilgil
Blankets from RAF Shawbury at Kirunguru Special School through Vision Africa
QPR kits at Sanchat Restart Centre in Gilgil
Tesco school uniforms distributed by Sister Emmah and her team at the Good News Centre
in Kibagare Slum, Nairobi
Mukuru Combine, Embakasi
Mukuru Combine Teams. The club is based in the Embakasi area of Nairobi.
GUINEA
A delivery to Conakry School in Guinea through Ruth and Mark and the Friends of Conakry
School. The kits shown were donated by Frechville FC of Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA and
Manchester United.
PALESTINE/ISRAEL
Report from Flt Lt Kev Thom: On 8 Jun 15, I and one of the political advisors from the British
Consulate in Jerusalem visited Al-Aqsa Sport & Social Club in Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza to
donate the football kit and equipment that had been donated. Al Aqsa sports club supports activities
for children and adults in the refugee camp. More than 100,000 people are living in the refugee camp,
relying on UN relief services, including health and education. There are three sports clubs operating in
the refugee camp. In spite of the weak infrastructure in the camp and the lack of any appropriate sport
facilities, Al-Aqsa Club arranges training and coaching sessions for both children and adults living in
the camp. The UN and camp leaders struggle against the constant threat of violence and use sport
and football as medium in which to attract children, youths and adults in an attempt to integrate them
into a more structured society. The use of football is used to develop the children’s sense of
confidence, self-esteem, inter-dependence and it is hoped that this will help develop them into more
productive adults in the community in which they live. The Club has two football teams: one for
children aged 10-15 years old and an adult team. The teams participate in the national football
competitions organised by the Palestinian Football Federation. I conducted a small coaching session
based on passing and control using the coaching staff to interpret to the children. Following that, we
played a small sided game before presenting the kit and equipment to each of the players. The
children were extremely appreciative and desperate to talk all things football. There were several sad
stories, including children who had lost family members in the Gaza war of the previous summer. The
visit had to be kept quiet from everyone, so it was a complete surprise when we turned up. They do
not often get visitors, and certainly no one has in the past, visited the camp to donate kit and
equipment in the quantity that we were able to do.
Kits donated by The FA and Nike
SYRIA/TURKEY/PAKISTAN – NPAC DELIVERIES
The Appeal has long links with the National Police Aid Convoys who move all sorts of items
to various parts of the world. We have delivered 3 loads of kit this year through NPAC
including assisting with a container full of cricket kit (through the Lords Taverners Charity) to
Pakistan. In late 2014 NPAC set off with kits for the refugee camps on the Turkey/Syria
border and this year sent a convoy to Pakistan. In Pakistan the kits were delivered to the
Muslim Hands Mirpur charity. They handed kits out to 3 Boys and 3 Girls schools and 10
football teams across the Kashmir and Afzalpur regions. We look forward to our continued
links with NPAC in 2016.
Turkey/Syra Regugee Camp
Pakistan
JAMAICA/MEXICO
Ian and Sue Forshaw have delivered various kits on holiday trips on behalf of the Appeal.
Earlier in the year they delivered items from The FA, Nike and Shrewsbury Town to schools
in Jamaica whilst at Christmas 2015 they delivered items to Children from the “Fundacion
Ciudad de la Alegria” donated by Shrewsbury Town. This foundation relies totally on charity
donations and educates up to 900 pupils and cares for battered women, people with terminal
illness and the old and infirm.
Jamaica
Mexico
SOUTH AFRICA
Wg Cdr Joolz Parry delivered items to South Africa for the Appeal in 2015
NEPAL
We have continued our excellent links with the Ghurkha Welfare Society and the work
completed by Lt Col Gary Blewitt in Nepal with 2 deliveries in year. This included a large
amount of clothing sent through Sir Dave Richards and also some school uniforms from
Tesco.
Manchester United shirts and Tesco school uniforms in Pokhara, Nepal
COLLECTIONS:
As usual the amount of donations throughout the year has been outstanding. The list is led
by Sheffield & Hallamshire FA and their member clubs who constantly donate items whilst
we have also received items form many other County Football Associations and clubs from
across the country including Manchester United, Leicester City, QPR, Millwall, Fulham and
many others. The full list of those who have donated is below. Thanks to all who have made
the Appeal the huge success it has become.
Longhoughton Rangers
Handsworth JFC
Shifnal Harriers
DONATIONS FROM: SHREWSBURY TOWN, ANTALIS, CHARLOTTE HOPE, COBHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON
WANDERERS, QPR, NIKE, THE FA/ENGLAND, LONGHOUGHTON RANGERS, SHROPSHIRE FA, NEW SAINTS, WYRLEY
JNRS, LEICESTER SOCK CO, SHCFA, WARNDON VILLAGES, RAF HENLOW, STAFFORDSHIRE FA, SOLIHULL
BOROUGH, MANCHESTER UTD, WALSALL, ASTON VILLA, SHREWSBURY SCHOOL, HIGHWAYMAN FC, THROSTLES
FC, BARNET FC, TUNBRIDGE WELLS FC, HOLMES CHAPEL FC, TESCO, MOIRA HOLT, GLOUCESTERSHIRE FA,
NORTH RIDING FA, NORFOLK FA, WORCESTERSHIRE FA, PEGASUS JUNIORS, LANCASHIRE FA, WESTMORELAND
FA, ECKINGTON BOYS JFC, RAWMARSH ST JOSEPHS JFC, HANDSWORTH JFC, HAMPSHIRE FA, TIM OAKES,
STAFFS FA, REECO SOCCER SCHOOL, COLWYN BAY FC, PORT TALBOT FC, WBA, LLANSAWEL FC, LEICESTER CITY
FC, RAFFA, CHELTENHAM SARACENS, TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS, ST CLEMENTS DANES SCHOOL CHORLEYWOOD,
MERCHANT TAYLOR SCHOOL CROSBY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE SCHOOLS, FULHAM FC, NPAC, NOVA INTL, ESFA,
BROSELY SPORTS, KENYAN SCHOOLS PROJECT, WROCKWARDINE WOODS ARTS ACADEMY, SEDGEBURGH
SCHOOL, COLIN JONES, SARAH HINGLEY, THERESA WOOD, SUSIE DOWDALL, WILSON HOUSE, WODEN SCHOOL,
LISSA MANN, SHCFA JUNIOR BLADES, ENERGISE SHROPSHIRE, SHAWBURY UTD JNRS, RAF FYLINGDALES, AFC
NEWBURY, HALLAM & REDMIRES JFC, TESCO, SUSAN RADLEY/SIR DAVE RICHARDS/GLUE CREATIVE PRODUCTION
SOLUTIONS, BERKS & BUCKS FA, LOU SIMPSON, PORTER FC, BRYLEY SPA FC, LUKE MASON, SANDRA NEVINS,
MADELEY SPORTS, SWALLOWNEST JNRS, SHEFFIELD RANGERS, SOUTHERN LEAGUE, CULLOMPTON RANGERS,
MILLMOOR JNRS, SHEFFIELD ATHLETIC, NEWCASTLE UNITED, WOODMAN JFC, PAUL HIGHAM, MILWALL FC,
FRECHVILLE JFC, MONICA BURTON, JUNE OLLIE, DEBBIE CLARK, TRACEY PYKE, MOD BOSCOMBE DOWN,
VAUXHALL FC, LINCOLNSHIRE FA, REG JACKSON, DONCASTER ROVERS FC, NORFOLK FA, ROB VINEY, ROGER
LOMAS, DRONFIELD TOWN FC, PEGASUS JNRS, HEREFORDSHIRE FA, RAF SHAWBURY/COBHAM, MOLLIE HOPE,
MRS CLASPER, CHILDS ERCALL CHURCH, RUSHMOOR COMMUNITY FC, REECO SOCCER SCHOOLS, REG MORRIS,
BEGIN LIFE SAFELY (ALISON MCCARTHY), FORRES SEVENS, EAST RIDING FA, ANLABY ROAD RANGERS,
DINNINGTON TOWN JFC, FINNINGLEY HARRIERS, HALLAM RANGERS, ASKEN FC U12S, CROSSPOOL JNRS, AFC
UNITY, BRUNSMEER AAFC, WALSHAM LE WILLOW SPORTS CLUB, CHIPPENHAM TOWN FC, WILTSHIRE FA,
CHIPPENHAM PARK FC, KINGSCLERE FC.
THANK YOU AWARD
SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
As a measure of our thanks I presented a wired RAF badge as an way of thanking Sheffield
& Hallamshire CFA and all of its member clubs for the huge amount of donations we have
received from them over the years. The award was made at the CFA HQ to Chairman, Brian
Jones and CEO, Roger Reade.
AND FINALLY
The long list of people who help in the success of this Appeal is too long to list; however, my
thanks must go to Flt Lt now Mr Tony Kinchley for all of his continued assistance as well as
all of those who have helped in 2015.
KENYA 2016 – 9th to 18th OCTOBER
I am now taking bids for anyone who may wish to join us on our next delivery trip to Kenya,
which will take place 9-18 October 2016.
As usual the trip is self-financed and will cost in the region of £1200. This cost should include
air fares (booked yourself), accommodation, transport and some meals.
Anyone interested should email me as soon as possible to get more details.
I expect we will make deliveries around Nairobi and in the Gilgil and Thika areas based out
of Braeburn Garden Estate School.
Thanks for taking the time to read our 2015 report and thanks once again to everyone who
helps with our project to provide Aid through Football worldwide.
Neil
N HOPE
MBE RAFR
Wg Cdr