Heretaunga Intermediate back campaign

Football players Phoenicia Te Rito (left), Courtney Walker, Jaspreet Singh, Abby Scarborough and Jordan Purcell, of Heretaunga Intermediate, receiving boots last year.

Heretaunga Intermediate is just one school the Bring Yer Boots campaign has helped throughout the region.

Last year the students were "stoked" when up to 30 pairs of boots got delivered to the school via Sport Hawke's Bay just in time for the winter sporting season.

The children lined up patiently before trying them on and swapping with friends until they got the right size.

Heretaunga Intermediate School principal Michael Sisam said the school had been involved in the campaign for a number of years which meant they now had a good store of boots.

"We had rugby trials on Wednesday and we had some students who didn't have any so it was great that we could provide them with some."

This helped give children equal opportunities to perform and participate on the sporting field.

The financial barriers of having to buy new gear are significantly reduced.

"Some children only want to play the sport for school but not club and because we only have a few games a year it doesn't necessarily warrant going out and buying a new pair of boots so it is good we can help them out."

Mr Sisam sees sport as a vital part of growing up so any initiative that encourages and enables students to play sport is a good thing.

He said it was good for physical health, building social skills, communication and teamwork.

"If you keep kids active in sport or just busy then they stay out of mixing in other areas that aren't so good."

Mr Sisam is pleased with the way people get behind the campaign each year and believes it is a great initiative.

"The community are looking after the community and rather than just throwing out pairs of boots it's about following that recycle philosophy as they go along way with the kids."

With regards to expanding the campaign to include sporting gear rather than just straight boots Mr Sisam said it was a good idea.

"I don't know what else we would need at this stage as boots in the past have been our biggest one but with hockey and netball I guess the odd pair of sneakers would also help."