Clean Kicks: From a Manchester Pilot to a London Movement for Youth, Culture and Climate Action
We're absolutely delighted that Clean Kicks has been selected for support through the Go! London Sports for Climate Action Challenge.
While this is an important funding milestone, it is also recognition of a much bigger journey that has been several years in the making. Just like Andy Burnham, Clean Kicks has come to London.
Originally developed by our Manchester Programme Lead, Ryan Hunt, Clean Kicks began with a simple idea: what if something culturally important to young people, like trainers, could become the starting point for conversations about sustainability, creativity, enterprise and opportunity?
Since then, the concept has developed into a unique youth-led programme that combines footwear upcycling, environmental education, creativity and entrepreneurship. Young people learn how to clean, customise, repair and transform footwear that would otherwise end up in landfill, while developing practical skills, confidence and pathways into further opportunities.
What makes Clean Kicks different is that it meets young people where they are. Rather than talking about climate change in abstract terms, it uses sport, fashion and youth culture to make sustainability relevant, tangible and aspirational. Trainers are more than footwear; they are part of identity, creativity and self-expression. Clean Kicks harnesses that connection to inspire young people to become changemakers within their communities,
The Go! London journey has also helped us think bigger.
Through the support of Ashoka and the wider Go! London programme, we were challenged to consider not only how Clean Kicks delivers outcomes for young people, but how it can influence wider systems. That process helped shape our ambition for the Clean Kicks Charter, encouraging brands, clubs and institutions to redistribute surplus stock, invest in youth opportunities and take greater responsibility for environmental sustainability. Ryan says 'It was a nail biting process that involved a Dragon's Den style presentation but I knew we had something special'.
Reaching the final stages of the programme required us to pitch the idea to a panel of experts, articulate our vision for growth and demonstrate how Clean Kicks could create meaningful environmental and social impact across London. Throughout that process, the feedback was consistent: the model has the potential to connect youth engagement, climate action and community sport in a way that is genuinely innovative. With Go! London's backing, we will now work alongside partners including Millwall Community Trust and the Harris Federation and community organisations to expand Clean Kicks across London, giving more young people access to creative learning, enterprise opportunities and climate action projects.
Most importantly, this investment is validation of the young people who have helped shape the programme. Their creativity, ideas and passion have shown that sustainability doesn't have to be something done to communities; it can be driven by them.
We are hugely grateful to Go! London, Ashoka and everyone who has supported the journey so far.
This is just the beginning.
