Children's shoes needed for Africa charity

Families in the UK will have the chance to changes lives in Africa next month, by donating unwanted shoes.

The Shoe Aid for Africa campaign will be running from Monday 5 October until Friday 9 October.

More than 500 schools across the UK will be donating shoes and it is hoped more than 50,000 pairs will be collected.

Last year schools, Sure Start centres and Scout groups donated more than 20,000 pairs of shoes which were then distributed in Mozambique in April this year.

Old shoes will be given free to children and families who have never owned their own pair of shoes before.

Shoe company Kiwi will be covering all the costs of transport, handling and distribution.

This year’s campaign is being backed by the Football Association with England players Emile Heskey, Matthew Upson and Rob Green donating boots for the cause.

Collection bins will be located for the week in schools across the UK to collect unwanted shoes.

Headteacher Sue Peel of Brambleside Community Primary School in Kettering said: “We try to encourage the children to think globally through various means such as fundraising and links with other schools. This scheme is an easy way to encourage them to think about how other children in the world cope and how, by doing something very small, we can make a big difference.”

The campaign is focusing on collecting children’s sports shoes as well as normal walking pairs. Adult shoes are also welcome but high heels and Wellington boots won’t be suitable.

For more information, visit: www.shoeaidforafrica.org