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| Cost of living: Couple to give 2,000 football shirts to children for Christmas | Cost of living: Couple to give 2,000 football shirts to children for Christmas |
| (3 months later) | |
| Paul Watson packing shirts with his children before they are distributed as Christmas presents | Paul Watson packing shirts with his children before they are distributed as Christmas presents |
| A couple are hoping to give away 2,000 football shirts to children who otherwise might not receive a Christmas present this year. | A couple are hoping to give away 2,000 football shirts to children who otherwise might not receive a Christmas present this year. |
| Paul and Lizzie Watson, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, have raised almost £9,000 and will distribute the shirts through schools and community groups. | Paul and Lizzie Watson, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, have raised almost £9,000 and will distribute the shirts through schools and community groups. |
| The total includes a £2,000 donation from presenter and actor James Corden. | The total includes a £2,000 donation from presenter and actor James Corden. |
| Mr Watson said they hope to reduce "pressure on the parents" amid the cost of living crisis. | Mr Watson said they hope to reduce "pressure on the parents" amid the cost of living crisis. |
| The couple, both 38, said their "Kitmas" project is a way of giving children "a sense of identity". | The couple, both 38, said their "Kitmas" project is a way of giving children "a sense of identity". |
| Paul and Lizzie Watson have raised almost £9,000 for this year's Kitmas appeal | Paul and Lizzie Watson have raised almost £9,000 for this year's Kitmas appeal |
| "Growing up, we didn't always get a football shirt - it was like the pinnacle of a present - but if you did, it was like that was your Christmas made, I still remember how that felt," said Mr Watson. | "Growing up, we didn't always get a football shirt - it was like the pinnacle of a present - but if you did, it was like that was your Christmas made, I still remember how that felt," said Mr Watson. |
| "What's so sad now is that most families cannot football shirts for their children because the cost is so ridiculous. | "What's so sad now is that most families cannot football shirts for their children because the cost is so ridiculous. |
| "It's a way of saying, 'you're part of this and you belong'," he added. | "It's a way of saying, 'you're part of this and you belong'," he added. |
| The project started in 2020 when the couple organised 1,000 shirts for children. Last year they reach the 2,000 mark. | The project started in 2020 when the couple organised 1,000 shirts for children. Last year they reach the 2,000 mark. |
| Kitmas, which is supported by the donation of shirts as well as money to buy them, has inspired other groups to do their own "spin-offs", including clubs such as Cheltenham Town and Frome Town. | Kitmas, which is supported by the donation of shirts as well as money to buy them, has inspired other groups to do their own "spin-offs", including clubs such as Cheltenham Town and Frome Town. |
| People can donate shirts as well as money to help get more kits to children this Christmas | People can donate shirts as well as money to help get more kits to children this Christmas |
| Mrs Watson said they had been heartened by the stories they hear about children receiving one of their shirts. | Mrs Watson said they had been heartened by the stories they hear about children receiving one of their shirts. |
| "There was a kid whose Barcelona towel was his prized possession and then he got a Barcelona shirt from us and he literally couldn't believe it - he cried. | "There was a kid whose Barcelona towel was his prized possession and then he got a Barcelona shirt from us and he literally couldn't believe it - he cried. |
| "These are the stories that we want more of because they remind us that this is a real thing we're doing," she added. | "These are the stories that we want more of because they remind us that this is a real thing we're doing," she added. |
| Wow! We just received an amazing donation from @JKCorden to Kitmas - legendary stuff! We’re now closing in on our target as we give football shirts to kids in the UK who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present. https://t.co/gLyGXZPpnZ pic.twitter.com/pwivteBiS3 | Wow! We just received an amazing donation from @JKCorden to Kitmas - legendary stuff! We’re now closing in on our target as we give football shirts to kids in the UK who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present. https://t.co/gLyGXZPpnZ pic.twitter.com/pwivteBiS3 |
| The couple, who live with their sons Luca, five, and 18-month-old Benji, said they were "jumping around the kitchen" when a £2,000 donation came in from James Corden. | The couple, who live with their sons Luca, five, and 18-month-old Benji, said they were "jumping around the kitchen" when a £2,000 donation came in from James Corden. |
| The presenter wrote: "This is such a great idea Paul and Lizzie. Happy Kitmas x x x". | The presenter wrote: "This is such a great idea Paul and Lizzie. Happy Kitmas x x x". |
| Mr Watson said the donation will fund 100 football shirts and was "the nicest moment". | Mr Watson said the donation will fund 100 football shirts and was "the nicest moment". |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | |
| Christmas | |
| Frome | |
| James Corden | |
| Stroud | |
| Cheltenham |