Neuff announces charity partnership with Soles4Souls
Neuff have teamed up with Soles4Souls to collect gently worn kit for redistribution to hardworking entrepreneurs to build and sustain their own businesses selling donated shoes & clothing, and enabling them to fight poverty and support their families and communities. There are a lot of athletes, triathletes and just people who don’t have access to kit, and maybe there is a potential world champion whose talents we will never see as they lack the kit to train, and therefore the opportunity – or maybe just lack a pair of shoes for school or work, something that so many of us take for granted. These small businesses fulfil that need whilst creating jobs and opportunity. Since 2006, Soles4Souls have distributed more than 50 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing in 129 countries and they’ve kept more than 23 thousand tonnes of textiles from going to landfills and put them to good use.
Soles4Souls also distributes new shoes & clothing donated by retailers and manufacturers to people in need around the world. By partnering with Soles4Souls to collect shoes in the UK, Neuff are unlocking the potential to distribute free new shoes and kit to young people and athletes in the UK who may not otherwise have access to the gear they need. We will be working with English Schools Athletics Association and a variety of sporting & community organisations to create these distribution networks. Neuff and Soles4Souls will also be working on the opportunity for para athletes to receive single shoes.
Laura Siddall, pro-triathlete and team member of our sister site Neuff Red has worked with Soles4Souls for many years and says “Soles4Souls is a great organisation, empowering women entrepreneurs to use these shoes to create jobs ad break the cycle of poverty. I love knowing that my ex-best kit is now supporting a budding athlete to fulfil their dreams, or just supporting someone to give them a chance and opportunity to live better day to day. This partnership between Neuff Red and Soles4Souls in the UK is now opening up the possibility of supporting organisations in the UK, as well as the exciting prospect of helping para athletes with single shoes, creating yet another win-win of keeping single shoes out of landfill whilst benefiting people. It’s really exciting to bring these organisations together, and I’m really passionate that we can make a difference to someone, or so many people, through the power of sport, and just giving them a pair of shoes.”
“Neuff was founded to support athletes in their development, we have supported para athletics for many years and we also try our hardest to have ethical work practices, such as recycled packaging and Living Wages. So when Laura suggested we partner with Soles4Souls, we jumped at the chance. We are proud of this new partnership and looking forward to both receiving donated kit and developing the new distribution networks.” Neuff Director Matt Cunningham-Neuff
