At The Richard Hale School, we believe education goes far beyond the classroom. It lives in the choices we make, the values we model, and the partnerships we nurture. For many years now, we have been proud to walk alongside Onda Solidária, building a relationship rooted in care, cultural exchange and meaningful action.

From this partnership, a simple but powerful idea was born: collecting football shirts that are no longer worn and giving them a new life. What might sit forgotten in a drawer here in the UK can become something extraordinary elsewhere. A source of pride, belonging and joy for a young person stepping onto a pitch in Brazil for the very first time. Football is a universal language. It doesn’t need translation. Through this campaign, children and young people from different countries are connected by a shared love of the game and a shared gesture of generosity.

There is also an important environmental message at the heart of this work. In a world where millions of sports shirts are discarded every year, choosing reuse is also choosing to care for our planet. By rehoming these shirts, we are turning potential waste into opportunity. Sustainability, solidarity and social responsibility meet in one simple action.

We were deeply honoured when this initiative was featured on Jornal Nacional, Brazil’s national news broadcast. That recognition was not an end point, but a reflection of what can happen when people believe in doing good together. The spotlight belongs not to one school or one organisation, but to every child and young person who has been part of this journey.

We were absolutely delighted by the response from our 2026 school campaign for shirts and shorts from the students and Richard Hale community. Through the generosity of our students and families, we collected an incredible 239 football shirts and 59 pairs of shorts. Each item represents a conscious choice to give, to reuse and to support a young person’s sense of belonging and possibility. Together, these donations will go on to find new pitches, new owners and new dreams in Brazil.