Derby County are joining clubs and fans from across football this Christmas to swap their home colours for a one-off fixture and show support and raise vital funds for those with no safe place to call home.
Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People, are staging their second successive #NoHomeKit campaign and the Rams will be supporting the initiative for the Sky Bet League One fixture at home to Cambridge United on Friday 30th December 2022 (7:45pm kick-off).
Derby’s players will wear their third kit for their final game of the calendar year, just like they did in the 2-0 victory over Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium back in October as Paul Warne oversaw his first game as the club’s Head Coach.
The all-maroon shirt, which is reminiscent of the popular change kit worn by Derby in the 1996/97 season under the late Jim Smith, is paired up with white shorts and maroon socks and will be worn at Pride Park Stadium for the first time.
Home stadium. Home colours. Home game. The football community knows the importance of home - and Derby County are proud to be playing their part. We’re fighting for a future where everyone has the right to a safe home.
Osama Bhutta, Director of Campaigns at Shelter, said: “Last year it was fantastic to see fans and teams across the country come together to fight the housing emergency. Our frontline services are braced for an incredibly tough winter as the cost of living crisis bites, so it’s brilliant that so many teams, fans and celebrities are stepping up and supporting #NoHomeKit this Christmas.”
Why Shelter Are Calling On Football’s Support
Every 90 minutes, 25 households are made homeless in England.
The housing emergency continues to devastate lives. This winter, thousands of people will spend Christmas trapped in dingy hostels, on friends’ sofas, or even sleeping in freezing cars. This is something Shelter can’t ignore.
With the growing cost of living crisis, the situation is set to get much worse. With the help of the football world, Shelter can continue to provide free advice and support to the thousands of people facing homelessness and continue the fight for home.
So, for the festive fixtures, Shelter are asking clubs and fans to get involved in #NoHomeKit; swapping home colours for an away or third kit.
Last year 261 clubs across England and Wales supported the #NoHomeKit campaign and Shelter are hoping to smash that figure this time around.
The key aims of the campaign are to raise awareness of the scale of homelessness amongst football fans, raise funds to support Shelter’s effort to end the housing emergency and unite the football community in support of those with no safe place to call home.
Together, we can make sure everyone in the UK has access to a safe, secure and affordable place to call home.
In 2021, Shelter advised 17,281 households through their emergency helpline. But many more people don’t know where to turn for help. People living in unsafe or unfit housing. People with no permanent place to call home.
How Derby County Fans Can Help
Whether you’re watching at the ground or from your sofa, join the movement fighting to defend the right to a safe, secure and affordable home for everyone. For the home game against Cambridge United, you can get involved by swapping your home colours for an away or third kit and text HOME to 70544 to donate £5 or visit: nohomekit.shelter.org.uk.
* Shelter receives 100% of your donation. Texts cost £5 + your standard network rate. They’ll reply by text to allow you to let them know how you would like to be contacted in the future and to find out whether you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation. Registered Charity number: 263710 (England and Wales), SC002327 (Scotland). Company number: 01038133
