Peterborough-based children’s sports charity partners with clothing business launched by young schoolgirls during lockdown

A Peterborough-based charity will receive a quarter of profits from sales of a rainbow ‘Hat of Hope’ produced by a lockdown business started up by a pair of schoolgirls
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. EMN-210318-142224001Sports 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. EMN-210318-142224001
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. EMN-210318-142224001

The Sports Connection Foundation, a Peterborough-based children’s charity, uses sport to inspire young people.

It has announced a new partnership with Wilcie, an online clothing business created by schoolgirls Willow and Macie Chillingworth during lockdown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Cambridgshire sisters, who are just eight and 11 years old, created the online retail brand 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 and 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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“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, aged eight, added: “While being homeschooled 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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“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.”

Related topics: