The donation, which includes a variety of United shirts, tracksuits and coats, will go towards the continued effort to support the mental and physical wellbeing of young people across the club’s local community, rewarding their efforts in school and providing another boost ahead of their return to the pitch.

Staff from across the club volunteered their time to pack over 2,000 boxes and helped to distribute them to 63 Foundation partner schools and colleges.

The impact of the gifts was felt across the schools; Steph Lonsdale, assistant headteacher at The East Manchester Academy (TEMA), said: “It’s just fantastic for us. The size of the donation is not something we could afford to put together for the students ourselves and it’s great to be able to recognise their hard work during lockdown.

“We’re hoping the donation makes students feel valued as we recognise how much resilience, independence and skill online learning required”, she added. “adidas is a brand our students really value, so to receive these boxes makes the children feel seen, valued and recognised. It’s really, really important for them.”

The donation coincides with the return of grassroots sport after many weeks of lockdown in England. The absence of physical activity has been sorely missed by schoolchildren and Jason Williamson, high school partnership coordinator at Manchester United Foundation, said the return would provide a huge boost to children’s mental and physical wellbeing.

He stated: “Our young people need to be active. The students need to get back out there and engage with friends; it’s so important from a social aspect for their development.”

In March, a phased return of Foundation projects began with the Girls’ Regional Talent Club being the first to restart, followed by disability football programme Ability Counts. Street Reds has also restarted sessions and more information can be found about all other Foundation activities at www.mufoundation.org

Originally published by fcbusiness.