Shropshire-based charity marks 20th anniversary with record-breaking Kenyan mission
A charitable appeal operating from RAF Shawbury has successfully completed its largest-ever delivery visit to Kenya, marking a triumphant milestone in the lead-up to its 20th anniversary.
The "Taking Football to Africa and Beyond" appeal, which specialises in delivering "Aid through Football," has spent the last two decades collecting and redistributing donated kit to children and adults across the globe. Organised by Squadron Leader Mark Smales and assisted by the appeal’s founder, Wing Commander (Retired) Neil Hope MBE, the initiative has grown from a local project into a global phenomenon that has now delivered over 450,000 items to 71 countries.
The most recent mission saw a dedicated team of 16 personnel, including serving military members, veterans, and civilians, depart for Kenya on 12 February. Over a whirlwind 10-day period, the team carried out 49 separate deliveries across Nairobi and the Great Rift Valley town of Gilgil. In total, they distributed 23,408 items, including more than 7,800 football shirts. These deliveries reached some of the most impoverished areas in East Africa, including the Kibera slum, where over a million people reside in just three square kilometres without permanent access to water, electricity, or sanitation.
The visit also held profound personal significance for the team through its connection to Lottie’s Way – The Charlotte Hope Foundation. This sister charity was established as a legacy for Neil Hope’s daughter, Charlotte, who volunteered in Kenya before her tragic death in a car accident in 2022. During the trip, the team visited the Restart Centre in Gilgil, a place Charlotte had held dear. Through Lottie’s Way, the team invested over £1,600 into essential foodstuffs and educational supplies for schools and orphanages, ensuring that Charlotte’s mission to support underprivileged youth continues to flourish alongside the football appeal.
The vast quantity of kit delivered was made possible by the generosity of the British footballing community. Donations poured in from the Football Association, Premier League giants such as Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and EFL clubs like Queens Park Rangers and Colchester United. Local support remained a cornerstone of the mission, with Shrewsbury Town providing significant contributions alongside various County Football Associations and grassroots clubs like Wallsend Boys Club.
Reflecting on the mission’s success, Wing Commander Neil Hope expressed his pride in how far the appeal has come since its inception in 2006. He noted that while the logistics are vast, the emotional heart of the project remains focused on the friendships renewed across Kenya and the enduring legacy of his daughter.
Squadron Leader Mark Smales added that after a year of meticulous planning, seeing the joy brought to those with very little made the intense schedule worthwhile. As the appeal prepares to enter its 20th year this May, the team remains committed to the simple but powerful belief that a football shirt can be much more than just a piece of clothing—it is a symbol of hope and international solidarity.
