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The team received the funding as part of the company’s drive to support employees’ local grassroots teams and help young people get active.
Cirencester Town U11s were nominated for funding by Svenna Yildirim, a postie at Royal Mail’s Cirencester Delivery Office whose son plays for the team. Royal Mail’s logo now features on the front of the players’ kits.
The players showed off their new kit at a charity football match, raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
Royal Mail is supporting the BHF as part of a four-year partnership, with employees aiming to raise £2 million for the charity over this period.
The money raised will help fund the Royal Mail Community Hearts programme, which is aiming to help deliver CPR training across communities, fund hundreds of community defibrillators and develop accessible heart health information for the nation.
Over the summer, thousands of Royal Mail colleagues got involved in the Great Big Fundraising Challenge for BHF and raised over £346,000 through a huge variety of activities including treks, runs, rides and football matches like this.
Royal Mail’s Kits 4 Kids was launched in response to many requests from colleagues across the country who want to help their local youth sports teams by funding new kit. Royal Mail and Parcelforce employees were encouraged to nominate their local grassroots youth sports teams to receive grant funding. 1,500 nominations were received, with successful clubs chosen randomly by region.
Cirencester Town U11s began playing together as U9s. The team plays in the North Wiltshire Football League and trains at Cirencester’s Corinium Stadium.
Greg Sage, Royal Mail’s deputy director for corporate affairs and ESG, said: “Our 130,000 people are at the heart of their communities across the UK, and Royal Mail’s Kits 4 Kids gives colleagues the opportunity to show their support and help young people get active in their local area. Unwavering pride and passion, forging through all weathers, out in the community – grassroots sport has a lot in common with Royal Mail. This exciting new initiative brings the two together and we are delighted to be able to support Cirencester Town U11s.”
Mark Willavoys, Cirencester Town U11s manager, said: “Like many grassroots teams, our team has struggled with kit as it can be expensive. Being given this grant from Royal Mail is a massive help – it’s so great for the kids to have a smart kit to be proud of.”
