Featured image: @kysoclub

October 18th saw the Powerhouse Youth Hub in Moss Side buzzing with excitement as the KYSO Football Club prepared for a friendly match against Sky TV, equipped with new kit thanks to a promising partnership with the Sportbox initiative.

The Powerhouse, a multi-service youth charity in the Manchester suburb, has long provided local young people with vital resources, including mental health support, career guidance and training programmes for those not currently in education or employment. It’s also home to KYSO Project CIC — a community initiative offering young people a safe space to engage in sports, arts and community-building activities.

Sportbox, the initiative behind the new kit, was created by MA Design for Health and Wellbeing student and Manchester-based designer Kate Kent. Driven by her commitment to making physical activity accessible, Kate launched Sportbox to break down barriers to sport participation by supplying communities with essential sportswear and equipment. “Access to essential sports clothing is a significant barrier for many communities,” says Kate. “Sportbox is here to change that.”

Kate first connected with KYSO through Kemoy Walker, a celebrated community leader and multi-award-winning activist known for his dedication to young people in the city. After learning about KYSO’s upcoming game with Sky, Kate quickly coordinated with Bourke Sports, an Irish sportswear supplier she had previously worked with, to secure kit for the 12-member team.

“I was overwhelmed when they sent £900 worth of branded kit,” Kate says, reflecting on the timely donation from the Irish brand. The new kit arrived just days before the match, and Kate delivered it personally to the Powerhouse the evening before the game.

In addition to looking the part, the new uniforms inspired confidence in the young players, creating a strong sense of team pride. “Without the support from Sportbox, we wouldn’t have had any kit for the match,” says Kemoy. “You can see it in the photos – the team all wore it with pride, which allowed for greater confidence and skill-building.”

Bourke Sports expressed support for Sportbox, applauding Kate for her commitment: “This is a brilliant initiative — fair play to Kate for taking on this challenge!”

Kate, currently studying at Manchester School of Art, launched Sportbox through Manchester Met’s 200 Year Community Fund. The fund encourages students to bring forward impactful community ideas, pairing them with mentors to develop, fund and deliver their projects. For Kate, this funding and mentorship was a valuable opportunity to bring her vision to life. “I want to inspire physical activity for all, whatever phase of life people are going through,” says Kate. “Sportbox is about creating a ripple effect, promoting healthier living and making sports accessible.”

Kate’s background in sportswear design includes collaborations with brands like Reebok and Calvin Klein. Her focus is on design’s power to improve wellbeing, whether through practical sports solutions for underserved communities or exploring ways to help mid-age women manage menopausal symptoms through fitness.

Elle Simms, an Experiential Learning Tutor at Manchester Met, highlights the impact of the university’s Rise programme, which aims to bridge students with Greater Manchester communities. “Our students know their communities better than anyone else, and we see incredible value in supporting them to launch meaningful projects,” she says. The Rise programme funds a diverse array of initiatives, including a festival tackling period poverty, refugee education support, and community-driven health and fitness projects like Sportbox.

With the pilot’s success, Sportbox is expanding its reach. Kate is exploring partnerships with other sportswear brands committed to social responsibility and hopes to engage local charities to ensure Sportbox reaches the areas and groups that need it most.

As Sportbox gears up to serve more communities across Greater Manchester, Kate remains optimistic about the project’s potential to make sports more inclusive: “By removing barriers to access, Sportbox aims to create healthier, more interconnected communities.”

Follow @sportbox.community