Everyone needs a place where they can find and build community. For over 20 years, Hart Gables has been that place for LGBTQIA+ people in the Teesside and East Durham areas of Stockton On Tees, England. The nonprofit organization has long offered both space and services, but recently decided to do more by using sports to foster physical activity. After booking a local sports hall to provide space and enable a regular schedule, the Hart Gable team still needed equipment to get the program going.
Random Acts staff member Nicole Kirby was bothered by increasing anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and wanted to help. After hearing about Hart Gables from family, she reached out to them to find out what she could do. That’s when she learned about the sports program and decided to help by providing equipment.
Equipment in Play
After applying for funding, Nicole ordered the equipment. She was able to purchase so much that it had to be delivered directly to Hart Gables! When Nicole went to check that the equipment had been delivered intact, she found that not only had it arrived safely, community members were already using it.
During her visit, the charity took a celebratory picture, and the manager told Nicole, “We are over the moon with the equipment.” Chatting with some of the community members told her why. One remarked how something as simple as tabards (pinnies) improved their games by allowing them to have identifiable teams. Another talked about how they had been uncomfortable getting active in other environments due to their gender identity, but they were able to participate in sports in this safe, inclusive environment.
If you know groups in your area that are trying to build a sports program and could use some donated equipment, take some inspiration from Random Acts staff member Nicole. Consider starting your own act here.
