AFC Mackworth and Mackworth Estate Community Association Launch Boot Exchange to Support Local Families

Families in Mackworth will soon be able to benefit from a brand-new initiative designed to take the pressure off the cost of children’s football boots.

AFC Mackworth has teamed up with Mackworth Estate Community Association (MECA) to launch The Boot Exchange - a scheme where families can swap outgrown football boots or trainers for a pair that fit, completely free of charge.

The idea is simple: when a child outgrows a pair of boots, they can use the Boot Exchange to swap them for a replacement pair, ensuring youngsters can continue playing without the financial strain of regularly buying new footwear as their feet grow.

The exchange will be based at the MECA Charity Shop on Drayton Avenue, making it easy for local families to get involved.

The Boot Exchange is not yet open, as the club and MECA are appealing for donations of football boots, astroturf trainers and similar footwear, all in good useable condition, to help stock the scheme before it officially launches.

Dan Willis, AFC Mackworth Chair, said: “At AFC Mackworth, we always try to support our community as much as we can, not just through football. We know how quickly children grow out of their boots and how expensive it can be for parents to keep replacing them. The Boot Exchange is about helping families and making sure no child misses out on playing because of cost.”

Donations can be dropped off directly at the MECA Charity Shop during opening hours. Once the scheme is up and running, families will be able to swap their boots free of charge.

A MECA spokesperson said: “We’re really proud to be working with AFC Mackworth on The Boot Exchange. MECA has always been about supporting our community, and this is another way we can make a real difference. By recycling and reusing boots, we’re ensuring that local children don’t miss out on sport because of cost. We’d love to see as many donations as possible to get the scheme up and running.”