Sports Partners Reuse & Transformation Scheme – (SPRTS)
SPRTS is a community-driven programme created by The Reuse Initiative CIC to give unwanted or damaged sports equipment a second life.
We work with sports clubs, schools, academies, community groups, and families to collect and repurpose equipment that would otherwise end up in landfill.
SPRTS makes sport more affordable for local people while cutting waste and strengthening community partnerships.
β Our Mission
βTo transform unwanted sports equipment into affordable kit, social impact, and sustainability for every community.β
We believe everyone should have access to sport, regardless of income. Through SPRTS, we divert reusable equipment back into local communities, repair what can be saved, and creatively transform anything thatβs beyond repair.
π How SPRTS Works
1. Partner With Local Sports Clubs & Schools
We invite professional clubs, grassroots clubs, schools, leisure providers, and community teams to join as SPRTS Partners.
Partners receive:
- Free equipment collection
- Sustainability recognition
- Priority access to refurbished kit
- Joint marketing & community impact reporting
- A digital βSPRTS Partnerβ badge for their website
2. Collecting Unwanted Sports Equipment
SPRTS accepts nearly every type of sports equipment, in any condition. If it can be repaired, reused, recycled, or creatively transformed β weβll take it.
Below is a list of items we collect, reuse and upcycle.
β½ Football & Team Sports
- Samba goals (plastic or metal)
- Goal nets
- Footballs (any condition)
- Football boots (pairs or singles)
- Bibs, kits, socks, PE clothing
- Training cones & markers
- Ladders, hurdles, poles
- Ball bags & kit bags
- Goalkeeper gloves
- Corner flags
- Rebounders, mannequins
- Shin pads
- Tackling bags
- Throwing dummies
π Gym & Fitness Equipment
- Dumbbells & kettlebells
- Weight plates & bars
- Exercise bikes
- Rowing machines
- Punch bags & boxing gloves
- Mats (exercise, martial arts, yoga)
- Resistance bands
- Step boxes
- Plyo boxes
- Sleds
- Gym storage racks
- Benches
π Cricket Equipment
- Bats
- Pads
- Helmets
- Gloves
- Stumps
- Nets
- Training gear
πΎ Racket Sports
- Tennis rackets
- Tennis balls
- Badminton rackets
- Shuttlecocks
- Squash rackets
- Table tennis equipment
π Golf, Hockey & Other Sports
- Golf clubs & bags
- Hockey sticks
- Lacrosse sticks
- Rugby equipment
- Hula hoops
- Scooters
- Skateboards
- Skates
- Helmets & pads
- Cycling gear
β» We Also Collect Materials For Upcycling
- HDPE plastic (goals, cones)
- PP/PE netting
- Foam padding
- Synthetic leather
- Metal frames
- Scrap steel
- Carbon fibre fragments
If youβre unsure β weβll take it.
SPRTS is looking to become a zero-waste scheme: every item is reused, repaired, upcycled or recycled.
3. Repair, Restore & Reuse
Many items donated by partner clubs can be brought back into use with minor fixes.
We repair:
β Goal frames & connectors
β Football nets
β Balls with repairable panel damage
β Football boots with replaceable studs
β Training equipment
These refurbished items are then redistributed to:
- Low-income families
- Youth clubs & grassroots teams
- School PE departments
- Community groups
- Charities & support services
4. Upcycling & Creative Transformation
When items cannot be repaired, we transform them into new, useful products. Here are but a few transformations:
From Football Goals
- Garden plant supports
- Agility frames & training poles
- Storage racks
- Outdoor play structures
From Nets
- Shopping & storage bags
- Sports Bags
- Garden protection netting
- Dog tug toys
- Storage hammocks
From Footballs
- Planters & hanging baskets
- Keyrings & wallets
- Dog toys
- Classroom craft kits
From Football Boots
- Boot plant pots
- Doorstops
- Keyrings
- Sculptural art for clubs
- Upcycled accessories
+ Many more. Every piece is saved from landfill and turned into positive impact.
π Why SPRTS Matters
β Reduces waste & landfill
Thousands of footballs, goals, boots, and nets are thrown out every year. SPRTS stops that.
β Saves money for clubs & families
Refurbished equipment makes sport accessible and affordable.
β Supports young people
Donated and upcycled items help disadvantaged children remain active and included.
β Strengthens community partnerships
Clubs join a network of sustainability-focused partners across Cheshire.
β Drives local circular economy
Everything reused, repaired, or transformed stays in the local area.
π§ Workshops & Community Programmes
SPRTS delivers creative and educational programmes, including:
- Boot-to-Planter Workshops
- Upcycled Football Crafts
- Make Your Own Dog Toy (Net Recycling)
- Goal & Training Equipment Build Sessions
- Sustainability & Circular Economy Lessons
These workshops are ideal for schools, youth centres, holiday clubs, and community events.
π€ Become a SPRTS Partner
Whether youβre a club, school, academy, college, leisure centre, charity, or community group β weβd love to have you onboard.
Benefits of becoming a partner:
- Zero-cost equipment disposal
- Sustainability impact reporting
- Priority access to refurbished kit
- Increased community visibility
- Helping local families access sports affordably
π¦ Donate Sports Equipment
We offer:
β Scheduled Collections
For clubs & organisations.
β Local Drop-Off Points
Available in Ellesmere Port & Chester.
β One-Off Collections
Useful for club clear-outs or end-of-season disposals.
π Get In Touch
The Reuse Initiative CIC
Supporting Communities. Sustaining Futures.
π Ellesmere Port & Chester
π§ info@reuseinitiative.org.uk
π reuseinitiative.org.uk
To request a collection or join SPRTS as a partner, complete our online form.