About Us

Balls to Poverty is a fabulous charity based in South Nottingham College working with and for young people in Nottingham, South Africa and Uganda. You’ll be amazed by what we do.

What We Do

We raise money to buy footballs and rugby balls to take out to South Africa and Uganda to kids in townships in the poorest areas of the country.

Students from South Nottingham College (SNC) have visited South Africa for the last eight years to coach and play football and rugby with children from some of the most deprived townships and in April 2012, a group will also work in Uganda for the first time. To qualify to join the programme, SNC students have to do well on their course and show commitment and dedication. They fundraise both for the programme and to buy balls, and they contract to return to their local communities and schools to coach and talk about their trip.

In South Africa and Uganda, the coaching and the distribution of footballs and rugby balls helps keep children out of trouble. Crime figures have reduced and the Western Cape Province authorities attribute some of this to the influence of The Balls To Poverty Programme.

In Nottingham our students come from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Given the opportunity to join the programme, they can alter their own lives and influence others. We try to challenge the stereotypes of inner city youth and create mentors who can create change for communities.

Since we started in 2005 we have delivered coaching sessions for up to 38,000 young people and 16,000 young people across Nottingham. We have purchased and distributed 26,000 footballs and rugby balls across 32 townships in Cape Town, the Western and the Eastern provinces of South Africa and 4 'slum' communities in Uganda. Over 180 students and 60 staff have taken part.

The Balls to Poverty Programme uses the international language of sport to reach young people in this country, South Africa and Uganda, to unlock hidden potential through empowerment and inspiration.