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Merry Kitmas as school helps gift football shirts

Tom Jackson/BBC Vice Principal at the academy, Michael Cox, with pupils Jack and Amelia. They are stood side by side and each holding a football shirt up in front of them. There is an AC Milan, FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Barcelona shirt. Tom Jackson/BBC
Pupil Jack, centre, said it was a privilege to take part in the shirt sorting to help others. He is pictured with vice principal Michael Cox and fellow pupil Amelia

School pupils and staff have collected more than 750 football shirts to be regifted to children who may not receive any presents this year.

Ernulf Academy in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, has been a hub for the Kitmas 24 initiative, sorting through hundreds of second hand football shirts sourced from across the UK.

Started by football podcaster Paul Watson five years ago, the crowdfunder aims to rehome very good condition shirts.

Vice principal at the academy, Michael Cox, said the pupils taking part wanted to give back to the local community and elsewhere.

"We know the joy and wonder of having a football shirt and this charity helps re-home them," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Tom Jackson/BBC A brown cardboard box on the floor. It is filled with bright coloured clothing. Tom Jackson/BBC
The school has become a distribution centre for the initiative

The shirts are sent to the school where they are sorted into size, their condition is checked and they are boxed up.

Student Amelia said every young person should be able to have something special to open on Christmas.

She said: "Doing this just makes sure everyone is able to do that... it feels so satisfying to know people are going to get that present for Christmas."

Principal Thomas Fisher said: "It's great to see how much they want to help other children who otherwise may not get any presents this Christmas.

"We want our pupils to develop confidence, independence and resilience, whilst being considerate, tolerant and to contribute to the wider community and I think this project has helped to demonstrate these wonderful qualities from our students."

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