Second chance for sports gear
Equipment may get a Replay with those who have a need
Sport Hawke’s Bay — Central HB has teamed up with Replay to collect and rehome new and used sports gear, ensuring that as many CHB sports players as possible have access to resources to help them achieve their sporting passion.
The key focus of Replay is to help communities stay active by rehoming sports gear with those that need a specific piece to get started, or to continue with their physical activity. This is aimed at local children and families that may need help accessing gear of their own.
Denise McLean of Replay says “Our key focus with re-distributing sports gear is to be as targeted as possible so each piece reaches individuals, families, and groups who will most benefit from its use. In addition to the pieces of sports gear we re-distribute, we also look at how we can add ideas and resources to enable the receiver to use and enjoy a piece of gear.”
Sport Hawke’s Bay will pilot the programme in Central Hawke’s Bay with the Centralines Sports Complex, Central Hawke’s Bay College, and Waipawa Library all set to be collection points for sports equipment that will be able to be reused in the community.
Sport Hawke’s Bay CHB community sport advisor Nicki Heremaia says “we are excited about Replay coming to our community. We all have equipment laying around that others may have a home for, so I can’t wait to be able to support keeping our local kids active.”
Replay was started five years ago by the Manawatū -based McLean family. Denise, Lucy and Millie had a clean out in the garage and realised there was a large amount of accumulated sports gear that was no longer being used or needed.
Being aware of the benefits to having the right piece of gear to stay active and keep kids involved in their sport, they started Replay with several collection bins in their community. Five years later more than 18,000 quality pieces of sports gear have been donated to local children and families, across three regions; Manawatū, Whanganui, and Taranaki.
“We are hugely grateful for the donations of a wide range of sports gear from within our community,” says Denise McLean.
“The kindness and generosity of those who donate is central in allowing us to do what we do.”
Donated gear includes all of the main sport codes and items that provide for free-range play. A variety of balls such as netballs, basketballs, rugby and footballs are received along with implements such as tennis and badminton racquets, hockey sticks and cricket bats.
“We also receive rugby and football boots, shin pads, sneakers, skipping ropes, hula hoops, and volleyball nets just to name a few. So many fantastic items, in great condition, ready to be used again,” says Denise.
If you’re having a clean out or have items that are in a good condition, consider donating them to Replay.
For the current location of collection bins, please visit www.sporthb.net.nz or Facebook page www. facebook. com/sporthawkesbaycentralhb. To find out more about replay across the regions visit www.replay.org.nz or www. facebook.com/replaynz