Kitmas hopes to brighten the Christmas of many children in the UK, by collecting and distributing football shirts to kids who may not otherwise receive presents this year.

This Christmas, more families than ever before will struggle to afford gifts for their children due to increased financial worries caused by the cost of living crisis and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any football fan has childhood memories of the joy and excitement of pulling on a new kit, and Kitmas aims to spread that happiness around the country. 

Who are we?

Kitmas was founded by football coach and activist Paul Watson and his wife Lizzie, with support from stand up comedians Vix Leyton and Mark Watson (Paul's brother).

This year our Canadian friends the Soccer Snobs are also running their own Kitmas campaign, check it out!

Three ways to get involved

There are three ways you can help brighten a child’s Christmas with a new football shirt:

1. DONATE MONEY

100% of donations will be used to buy new shirts that can be given to children on Christmas Day, and to send them where they're needed. The more money we can collect, the more shirts we can buy. 

2. DONATE A SHIRT

Around the country hundreds of pre-loved football shirts will be sitting in cupboards and wardrobes once children have grown out of them. Kitmas will accept any football shirt in very good to 'like new' condition, just send them to us: Kitmas Appeal, PO Box 481, Stroud GL6 1NZ

3. CREATE YOUR OWN KITMAS AT YOUR CLUB

This year we are inviting football fans clubs and community organisations to create their own version of Kitmas through Crowdfunder. It's so simple to get started and will only a few minutes to get up and running. And you don't need any bank details. However you will need to buy and distribute your club's shirts in your community this Christmas. Contact us for more information!

What we want to achieve

Our goal is to run this appeal every year, and eventually to become a registered charity. Last year we gifted more than 2,000 shirts to young football fans, but this year we want to make an even bigger impact, and that's where you come in!

Thank you for your support, and Merry Kitmas!

Press coverage

From 2021:

Belfast Telegraph: Football fans donate kit for disadvantaged kids’ Christmas presents 

Sky News: Fans urged to donate football kits to make Christmas special for disadvantaged children 

The Independent: Football fans donate kit for disadvantaged kids’ Christmas presents Football fans donate kit for disadvantaged kids’ Christmas presents     

Evening Standard: Football fans donate kit for disadvantaged kids’ Christmas presents 

Stroud News & Journal: Paul Watson to bring joy to thousands of kids at Christmas 

Frome Town: Kitmas is here. Time to do something amazing...  

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From 2020:

Football Supporters Association (FSA): Kitmas: Fans help make a difference this month

BBC News: 'Kitmas' launched to gift football shirts to children this Christmas

Big Issue: Comedian Mark Watson is planning a ‘Kitmas’ for kids in poverty 

The Mirror: Heartwarming new campaign to get children their first football kit for Christmas 

Big Issue: Big Issue Changemakers 2021: Poverty prevention

Gloucestershire Live: The football fan with a goal to give disadvantaged kids a Christmas to remember