Subscribe to Whizz-Kidz NewsMatthew Pinsent helps JJB launch national trainer recycling scheme for Whizz-Kidz
We’re excited to announce JJB Sports has launched a new in-store trainer-recycling scheme to raise funds for Whizz-Kidz – all kicked off by four-times Olympic gold-medal rower Matthew Pinsent.
Pinsent visited JJB’s Slough store last week, donating the trainers he wore whilst training for the 2006 London Marathon. He said:
“As soon as I heard about JJB’s scheme I knew it was something I wanted to get involved in. Just taking a quick look around my house revealed plenty of unwanted sports shoes that we had lying around, taking up valuable cupboard space. Being able to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way, for a financial incentive, and also knowing that I’m helping raise invaluable funds for Whizz-Kidz at the same time – well, it couldn’t really tick any more boxes if it tried!”
England and Manchester United star Michael Carrick has also donated a pair of football boots to the scheme, alongside fellow footballer and Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, and ROI and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given.
The scheme is the first of its kind in the UK; by rewarding those recycling unwanted sports shoes (of any size and type) with a £5 discount voucher to buy a brand new pair of trainers in JJB.
Keith Jones, CEO of JJB Sports commented, “We know our customers want a great deal on sports footwear, and this scheme enables us to offer this while also helping the environment, and our partner charity Whizz-Kidz. We’re delighted that sporting legends such as Matthew Pinsent, Micheal Carrick and Mikel Arteta are helping us to raise awareness of the scheme, which we will be running for the foreseeable future to enable everyone to take advantage”
Stuart Denard, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Whizz-Kidz said: “We’re thrilled to be the beneficiary of this high profile partnership – JJB has a fantastic high street presence, and an ethos similar to our own; together we’ll get more young people moving, and taking on new challenges such as learning a new sport. Thanks to the generosity of JJB and their customers, many more young disabled people will get moving and set their own personal challenges.”
JJB estimates that if all the unwanted trainers and sports shoes that are currently lying around British homes were recycled via the Whizz-Kidz fundraiser, it could save around 59million pairs from going to landfill.
With the average pair of trainers in JJB sports costing £29, the £5 money-off voucher consumers will receive in exchange for their old shoes represents an average 17% off the price of a new pair. All profits that JJB makes from the sale of the unwanted shoes for re-use or recycling will support many more young disabled people take their ‘first steps’ into independence and mobility through Whizz-Kidz.
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