About Us

Balls to Poverty is a fabulous charity based in South Nottingham College working with and for young people both in Nottingham and in South Africa. 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 to kids in townships in the poorest areas of the country.

Students from South Nottingham College (SNC) have visited South Africa for the last five years to coach and play football and rugby with children from some of the most deprived townships. To qualify to join the tour, SNC students have to do well on their course and show commitment and dedication. They fundraise for the trip 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 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 Balls To Poverty.

In Nottingham our students come from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Given the opportunity to join the trip, 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 20,000 young people and distributed 18,200 footballs and rugby balls across 9 townships in Cape Town and the Western and the Eastern provinces of South Africa. Over 100 SNC staff and students have taken part.

Balls to Poverty uses the international language of sport to reach young people in this country and South Africa, to unlock hidden potential and empower and inspire.