Sports Connection Foundation (SCF), the Peterborough-based children’s charity that uses sport to inspire young people, has announced a new partnership with Wilcie, an online clothing business created by schoolgirls Willow and Macie Chillingworth, who are just 8 and 11years old. The sisters, from Cambridgeshire, created the online retailer during the first national lockdown, initially selling hoodies featuring their own designs, before expanding out and creating rainbow ‘hats of hope’. When the girls started selling the items, they decided they wanted to give something back to the local community from the profits and chose to partner with Sports Connections Foundation.
As part of the agreement, Wilcie will donate 25 per cent of the profit from the hats of hope to Sports Connection Foundation and the girls are also hoping to expand the Rainbow Hope collection further with the addition of candles and footballs. The money donated will go towards helping the charity grant some of its sports-related wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, which it hopes to resume later this year.
Karen Olden, Income & Engagement Manager of Sports Connection Foundation, said: “Like all charities, this year has been tough, but we are determined that our vital work will continue in 2021. Therefore, when we were approached by Willow and Macie, we were all delighted. It is such a great business idea and the rainbow ‘hat of hope’ really helps to lift spirits. We are extremely grateful to the girls and are looking forward to seeing how our partnership with Wilcie progresses in the coming months.”
Willow Chillingworth, age 8, added: “While being home schooled last year, our Dad
challenged us to design our own logo and think about what clothing we would like to bring to life. From there, he helped us to create a website to start selling some of our designs. We absolutely loved it and were amazed when our hoodies started selling, so we decided to branch out into hats. We event incorporated our names in the name of our brand.
“We believe our rainbow hat is not only a symbol of positivity but something everyone can resonate with from the past year. We even drew one on our house gate and lots of people in our village stopped to take pictures and it was all over social media. We saw the joy this brought to people and hope the hat will do the same. It’s great seeing people wearing one and we’ve even had international sales. We can’t wait to sell lots more and the fact we can help other children via Sports Connections Foundation is a real bonus! We also have now brought out a candle of hope as well”
For further information please contact:
The Sports Connection Foundation
Karen Olden
Telephone: 0771 7174060
E-mail: karen@scfchildrenscharity.org.uk