Empowering Futures through Collaborative Support

Humanitarian aid experts brought their support a bit closer to home when they provided sports kit and footwear for youngsters taking part in a Herts-led initiative.

Goods for Good, which supports people living in poverty across the globe, worked with Herts Sport Partnership (HSP) to deliver a Fit, Fed and Read session as part of its annual summer activity programme.

The Watford-based charity provided 400 highquality branded sports kits and footwear for each of the youngsters who attended a Fit, Fed and Read celebration event hosted by partners, child clothing brand My 1st Years, at its warehouse.

Rosalind Bluestone MBE, Founder and CEO, said: “At Goods For Good, our fundamental mission is to bring together the corporate and charity sectors, to create lasting positive change. We stand as a bridge, forging connections between corporate responsibility and charitable impact, with a commitment to driving transformative change in disadvantaged and deprived communities.

“In a remarkable display of unity, compassion and shared purpose, Goods For Good facilitated an event that exemplifies our core values in action. Supporting our charity partner, Herts Sports Partnership, the event helped hundreds of disadvantaged children in Hertfordshire.”

HSP’s Fit, Fed and Read programme offers a unique opportunity for Herts children aged eight to 11, who are on free school meals or within families facing disadvantage, to engage in cultural, physical and educational activities.

Rosaline said: “Fit, Fed and Read is more than just a summer camp; it’s a holistic approach to nurturing young minds and bodies. The programme recognises that the challenges facing disadvantaged children extend beyond their immediate circumstances, permeating their physical well-being, education and overall prospects.

“By offering a combination of sports activities, nutritious meals and educational enrichment, the programme addresses multiple facets of a child’s development.”

At the heart of Fit, Fed and Read lies the transformative power of sport. Beyond the sheer joy of play, engaging in sports equips children with essential life skills, from teamwork and discipline to goal setting and resilience. For children from marginalised backgrounds, this exposure opens doors to experiences they might not otherwise encounter, fostering selfconfidence and a sense of achievement.

The significance of such programmes cannot be overstated. By bridging the opportunity gap and providing a holistic approach, these camps create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the summer months. They foster a sense of possibility, hope and ambition among disadvantaged children.

“Goods For Good is dedicated to fostering change through the transformative power of sport and we are proud to be able to support the programme for a third year. These kits represented pivotal support for this year’s Fit, Fed and Read programme and this event represented an embodiment of shared purpose and a commitment to creating a brighter future for those who need it most.

“The event served as a reminder that change is not borne of solitary actions but is realised through the collective determination of those willing to make a difference. This collaboration is demonstrative of Goods For Good’s ethos for connecting corporate resources and charitable passion to create a catalyst for positive transformation.”