The Poundland Foundation – the discount retailer’s new charity – has announced details of its first grants made to local children’s sports groups.
On starting up in May, the charity pledged to invest £825,000 in its first year to support local communities, starting with kids’ activities, from soccer and cricket to cheerleading and lifesaving.
Invitations for the first round of grants opened in June and the Poundland Foundation has now handed over payments of up to £750 to the first batch of 150 teams and organisations across the UK, Aberaman Ladies & Girls FC in Merthyr and Abercarn Utd Girls FC in Blackwood.
The grants were made to provide kits or equipment, to encourage youngsters to take part in physical activities.
Among those to get grants were teams and clubs for boys and girls football, cricket, cheerleading, boxing, rugby, table tennis, basketball, martial arts, gymnastics, hurling, rowing and sailing.
Barry Williams, managing director of Poundland, said: “We know the Poundland Foundation is going to make a big impact in local communities right across the UK and we’re looking forward to supporting as many organisations as we can.
“Helping youngsters get involved in physical activities is a great place to start and it’s fantastic to see the spread of sports and events we’ve been able to support with our first round of grants.”
The Poundland Foundation continues to support Poundland’s existing charity partnership with Make-A-Wish® UK, Tommy’s and Whizz-Kidz with a £2.5 million commitment over the next two years.
Recent data from Sport England showing children taking part in physical activity for an hour or more dropped from 47 per cent to 19 per cent during the first lockdown has driven this first round of Foundation grants.
Money for the Poundland Foundation comes from in-store fundraising, carrier bag donations and the partnership with Pennies, the charity that collects micro-donations through chip and pin machines.
Poundland has always played an important part in keeping Britain’s high streets thriving and has for many years recognised its special responsibility to the communities it serves.
Over the past four years it has raised over £5 million for charities and community causes, challenging perceptions of a discount retailer in a tough retail landscape.
