A number of South Leeds groups joined Active Leeds for a Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership (LEKEP) event in November to celebrate becoming global winners for ‘purpose led partnership’ at the Sports Positive Awards 2024 and to explore how we can collectively continue making a difference across Leeds.
The Sport Positive Awards celebrates people and projects who use the power of sport to tackle major issues including the climate and biodiversity crises, and environmental/climate justice.
This award recognition highlights the incredible work of the whole partnership and serves as a springboard to expand the impact even further. We’re committed to using this momentum to grow the project, reach more communities, and inspire others to replicate this model.
The Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership (LEKEP), created by Leeds City Council’s Active Leeds (Get Set Leeds Local) service with Yorkshire Sport Foundation, sees recycled or unwanted sports kit distributed to priority communities in the city.
Since the partnership began kit has made its way via community partners and schools to a number of residents in South Leeds, who may for various reasons struggle to have access or afford sports kit.
The partnership has been made up of Active Leeds (Leeds City Council), Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Zero Waste Leeds, Action For Sport, Run for all, Leeds United Foundation, The Recovery Runners, Leeds Dock Run Club, Leeds City College, LS-TEN Skate Park, Pendle Sports, The Skate Scholarship, parkrun, British Cycling and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, along with welcoming new partners to the partnership at the November event.
As well as encouraging healthy active lifestyles, the project also helps to reduce landfill through a more environmentally-sustainable approach, supporting local organisations in creating their own kit donation schemes, reducing waste, and creating a community-driven circular economy promoting inclusive growth.
At the November event guest speakers shared invaluable insights. Denise from Sport England emphasized their mission to get people moving and explored how sport can contribute to addressing climate change through meaningful action.
Andrew from Leeds City Council provided an overview of the city’s efforts to become carbon neutral and how local projects like this are supporting that vision. Gill from Zero Waste Leeds celebrated the success of initiatives like the school clothes exchange and the (currently live) coat appeal, demonstrating the power of collective effort across the city.
Clive from Action for Sport reflected on the success of LEKEP in schools and how its impact is inspiring other cities and councils to replicate the model.
The model still has room for development, but there’s a desire from all partners to continue to work together to create change.
Together, we are tackling inequalities, addressing environmental challenges, and supporting communities to move more. The LEKEP is a great example of how partnerships can drive meaningful change.
If you’re interested in developing your own sports kit donation scheme, have individuals/groups in need of kit or want to become part of the partnership please get in touch via getsetleedslocal@leeds.gov.uk. Visit www.zerowasteleeds.org.uk to find out more information about their current live coat appeal for where you can donate or pick up a coat.
This post was written by Karen Peck
We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life page, or email us at: info@southleedslife.com
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
