AFC Totton
SHELTER #NOHOMEKIT CAMPAIGN
The PitchingIn Southern Football League are delighted to announce that it is supporting Shelter’s #NoHomeKit campaign over the 27 December fixtures to support and raise awareness of homelessness in the UK.
You may be aware that homelessness in the UK, and housing more generally, is reaching a critical point. Over 180,000 households have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic. Shelter's work is more important than ever, and football is key to their strategy in tackling the housing emergency over the next three years.
Football understands what home means. Home gives all fans a sense of identity, belonging and, above all, community. With the great connection that our Clubs have within their communities they can help fight homelessness and the feeling of home is what keeps us coming back to football week after week, season after season. Shelter believes home is everything, too.
A great visible action is to not wear a home kit for fixtures on December 27th, showing support for those with no safe place to call home.
It would be fantastic to have all 82 Clubs in the PitchingIn Southern League involved. Even if a Club is playing away, they can support in the same way: wearing NoHomeKit (instead, their away or third kit) and lending their voice on social media. The League are proud to support this campaign and, whilst voluntary, would encourage all Clubs to actively support it.
AFC Totton have made the decision to support the campaign during our home fixture against Lymington Town, when the Stags will take to the field wearing their fluo yellow away shirts, black shorts and yellow socks.
Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns at Shelter, said:
“Homelessness has risen dramatically over the last decade. Right now, 91 families in England are made homeless every single day – and sadly, even more people could lose their homes with a challenging winter ahead of us.
Access to a safe and secure home means everything, it gives all of us the foundation for a better life – yet too many people don’t have one. I’ve been a football fan my entire life, and firmly believe that football is uniquely placed to help, given the importance of ‘home’ in the game.
Your Clubs are at the heart of communities across the country and having your support for NoHomeKit will help enormously to raise awareness of homelessness, and what we can all do to fight it.”
Donations to this worthwhile campaign can be made to Shelter via its website at shelter.org.uk/nohomekit for an amount of your choice. To donate £5 by text message, text ‘HOME’ to 70455.
The PitchingIn Southern League is delighted to lend its support to the NoHomeKit campaign and hopes that everyone connected with the League is too, especially at this time of year.
You can use this link to donate to Shelter's #NoHomeKit campaign.
By Ben Rochey-Adams (from a Press Release by Shelter)
