Dear Friends,
I need your help…
I’m reaching out to ask for donations towards the cost of receiving our donated kit and equipment in Ghana.
We’ve set up a JustGiving page here – every donation counts in ensuring that as much of our funding as possible goes directly to supporting underprivileged children in Ghana.
If you would like to make a larger donation as a company, please get in touch and we will raise an invoice for the charitable donation. It is more tax efficient for companies to use this process as we are a registered UK charity.
Thank you!
Simon Milton
Futurestars Charity Director & The Futurestars Charity Team
The Kit Donation Process and Incredible Support
The Donated Kit
Over the past 12 months, I have been collecting donated sports kit from clubs and organisations for Futurestars in Ghana. This is something we do every year, following a well-established process that ensures all of our partner schools benefit.
When the container arrives in Ghana, the donated kit supports clubs, coaches, teachers, staff, and—most importantly—the children.
Ipswich Town and Brighton have been our largest contributors, generously donating surplus and previous seasons’ kit. They are proud to support the charity and to see their club colours worn across our schools and clubs in Ghana.
We have also received fantastic support from local Suffolk schools and the Suffolk FA. Donations include balls, bibs, cones, shin pads, football boots, training equipment, and more. In addition, I’ve collected thousands of books and paper resources, which are greatly valued in our schools.
The Process
To begin, I need a van to collect the kit. I typically make around eight trips per year until we have enough to fill a 20ft container. When clubs (such as Brighton) have kit ready, I contact Chris Garrad at DHL in Ipswich, who kindly provides a van free of charge.
Once collected, the kit is stored at ContainIT in Ipswich, where Ross Barnard generously provides warehouse space at no cost.
When we’re ready to ship:
- The team at MSC Ipswich provides a 20ft container, free of charge.
- Cory Brothers arranges delivery of the container to Bluestem Warehouse in Ipswich.
- Around 45 brilliant volunteers then help unload, sort, list, repack, and reload everything ready for shipment.
All of this is done voluntarily and free of charge.
The container is then shipped from Felixstowe to Tema, Ghana, with all logistics again generously covered by MSC and Cory Brothers.
On arrival in Tema, OMA Group clears the container at the port and transports it to our rented stadium, where we store and distribute the kit. This service is also provided free of charge.
In short, the entire process—from collection to delivery—is made possible by the incredible generosity of partner companies and volunteers, as part of their commitment to giving back.
The Fundraising Campaign
The only cost we must cover is customs duty in Ghana. Although all items are donated and have no cost to us, they must still be assigned a value for import purposes.
Our last customs bill was close to £5,000 for a full container of sports kit and equipment. While this is a significant amount, it is fair relative to the volume and impact of the donation.
Your Support
This is where we need your help.
We have set up this JustGiving page to raise funds specifically to cover these customs costs. While it may not be the most exciting fundraising appeal, it is absolutely essential.
Every pound raised ensures that more resources reach the children who need them most. For many, receiving this kit means owning their very first football shirt or pair of trainers.
If you support what we do and believe in our mission, please consider making a donation using the link below.
Please also take a look at our photos and videos showing the process and the impact on the children we support.
Thank you in advance—every contribution truly makes a difference.
