22/10/2007 Spare Kit Shipped to Africa

The Hampshire FA have packed up a large amount of kit and donated it to an Africa based charity called the Sean Devereux Children's Fund. After contact from Paul Clements of Beaulieu FC (pictured above right) we had to work fast to assemble a good package of kit and equipment including, balls, bibs, shirts, shorts, socks and training tops ready to be shipped out to Africa today.

Beaulieu FC play their home games at Sean Devereux Park which is named after the former African aid worker from Yateley. Sean, who was sadly assassinated in 1993 whilst working for UNICEF in Somalia, spent nearly five years working with children in some of the poorest areas of Africa including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia before joining UNICEF.

The Sean Devereux Children's Fund, set up in his honour, provides aid to African children via various projects that offer self-sufficiency and are sustainable long term. As a club Beaulieu FC support Sean's trust by regular donations of much needed surplus football kit and equipment that is put to use in the Sean Devereux Community School, one of these such projects. The Hampshire FA hope to work alongside Beaulieu FC and the Sean Devereux Children's Fund in the coming months so that we can continue to support their good work.

Maureen Devereux, when speaking on behalf of the Sean Devereux Children's Fund thanked us for all the “wonderful sports kit we provided” and said “I can assure you it will reach the most needy of children and make so many very happy.

There are two container loads of aid sent a year, one today and the next one in March 2008. If you or your club are interested in making a donation or have any questions please contact Chris Smith here at Hampshire FA on 01256 385010.

If you would like to learn more about the Sean Devereux Children's Fund please visit their website: http://www.seandevereux.org.uk .