A recycling project aiming to encourage physical exercise in youngsters has been kick-started in Dundee.
Boots For All was set up by Liam Neish, a pupil support worker at St Paul’s RC Academy, in an effort to remove the burden of buying expensive football equipment.
The initiative has been running for less than a month but has already drawn in hundreds of donations.
The 39-year-old from Maryfield said the project came together by chance after he tried to collect boots for boys on the school football team.
He said: “I put a message on my Facebook (to find boots) and a few friends replied. But when I was collecting them, people said they had lots of sizes and asked if I would take them – they were all in near new condition.
“By the last collection I ended up swapping some of the boots after telling a friend I’d received lots of donations and he swapped his for a different size, so it all happened itself that first night.
“As I’m a youth worker, and my mum Agnes is a long-time foster carer, there is always something we can do to help young people. This has come about on its own momentum but I’m happy I’m able to help.
“I felt this project might help parents as kids feet grow so quickly and the cost of boots can be a pressure. It was more a case of putting the donations to good use, due to the excellent conditions the boots were in and the response was so big.”
It is hoped the scheme can reduce the amount of waste being generated by giving back to the community.
Accepted donations include boots for soft and hard ground, astro trainers, indoor trainers and shin pads. Football tops will also be accepted.
Items must be in a wearable condition so they can be handed out to other children. It is hoped the shoes can be recycled back into the scheme once children have outgrown them.
The community have thrown their weight behind the project, which Liam credits to its growing success.
He said: “I had over 100 people contact me in the first two days offering boots and that’s when I decided to move forward and actually set up a project to help the wider community.
“The feedback was amazing and lots of parents have said it was a great idea. I’ve managed to get boots out in the last few weeks and it’s been incredibly appreciated by those that have requested and received boots.”
The project has received donations in many different sizes, and anyone wishing to donate or request boots can contact the Boots For All Project on Facebook.
