Question 1

When does the 2026 campaign start?

Accepted Answer

You can start collecting shoes anytime that suits your school; start today, start tomorrow, start next week. Just remember you’ll need to store those shoes until we collect them last two weeks of April!

Between Tuesday 7th April & Thursday 30th April you can let us know you are all done and ready for collection.

Just go to our Shoe Collection booking form (which opens on the 7th April)  to let us know you are ready for the donated shoes to be collected.

Question 2

What do we need to do as a school?

Accepted Answer

Register on our website to show your interest and let us know you would like to participate. 
Begin letting parents know about the need for donations by sharing a message to let them know about the campaign - we’ll provide links to these resources after registration.
Prepare a suitable cardboard box/container ready for donation drop-offs and let your parents know where to find it.
Remind parents the campaign has begun and start accepting donations of shoes on the dates you want parents to bring them in. 
Go back to our website between the 7th April - 30th April and let us know you’ve finished collecting and are collection ready - we'll then arrange a collection with our courier.

Question 3

How and when do we register to take part in the campaign?

Accepted Answer

Teachers can register on our website any time, from 1st March until 30th April, to show your School's interest and let us know you would like to participate in the campaign.  
  
It takes less than a minute. 
  
That way we can keep you informed on any updates during the campaign, and also provide some information as to where our donated shoes go when they reach Africa.

Question 4

How do we get our donated shoes to you?

Accepted Answer

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our courier, they will pick up from every national school in Ireland from 13th April and through April 2026 - you will need to store the shoes you collect during your campaign (which you can run when suits you) until April 2026.  Your school will just need to complete our collection form to let us know when you are collection ready, this form will be available from 7th April 2026.  Our courier partner will then arrange to pick ups when they are in your area - this will be any time from when you advise you are ready, right up until the and of April.

Please note: it's important that you use the form on the website to let us know when you are ready to have your shoes picked up. Do not contact couriers directly.

For non-national schools please get in touch using the contact us form on our website.

Question 5

How do we pack the shoes for collection?

Accepted Answer

Quality Control:  It's important to stress to parents the type and condition of the shoes we need, otherwise we will end up with a huge number of shoes that are unsuitable and which we will need to dispose of. It will be much more environmentally friendly to send any unsuitable shoes home again with the kids.
 
Two is company!  Having just one shoe is worse than having none - we need pairs!   You need to ensure that each pair donated by parents are tied securely together by their laces or using a cable tie, making sure it's tightened fully.   
 
Pack them up - Your school’s donated shoes need to be packed in good condition cardboard boxes, with lids intact.  Boxes need to be securely taped with broad packing or duck tape. Please also attach labels provided by our courier partner which they will provide after arranging a collection - first you need to let us know you are 'Collection Ready' using the Collection button on our website (available from the 7th April).

Remember, your donation will be joining hundreds more before they make the journey to our sorting centre.

We want:

We don't want:

Question 6

Do we need to attach anything to the donated shoes?

Accepted Answer

Once your donated shoes are packed in cardboard boxes (with lids intact, not overfilled and taped securely)  - we need you to print off and attach labels to each box for collection. Labels will be provided by our courier partner once your collection is booked. Please use the 'Collection' button (available from 7th April 2026) on our website to let us know you are ready.

Question 7

When do we tell parents about it?

Accepted Answer

That’s entirely up to individual schools, however, you can start collecting shoes anytime that suits your school. Just remember you’ll need to store those shoes until DPD come to collect them from 13th April and throughout the rest of April!

Once registered, schools will recieve an email with lots of information on the campaign, including some suggested draft emails and links to content for WhatsApp messages you can send to parents.

If you do not receive an email after registering please get in touch via our contact form on the website for assistance.

Please remember, between Tuesday 7th April & Thursday 30th April you'll need to let us know you are all done and ready for collection. Just use our collection booking form to let us know you are ready for the donated shoes to be collected by DPD.

Question 8

What information do we tell parents?

Accepted Answer

We will be sending all registered schools an email after registration with lots of information on the campaign, including some suggested draft email and content for WhatsApp messages you can send to parents.  Each school will need to set their own dates for when they want kids to bring in their shoes – just register no later than the 31st March.  
  
It will be key that we stress to parents the type and condition of the shoes we need, otherwise we will end up a huge amount of shoes that are unsuitable and we will need to dispose of. It will be easier, and more environmentally friendly, to send any unsuitable shoes home again with the kids.

Question 9

When do schools ask kids to bring in shoes to school?

Accepted Answer

That’s entirely up to individual schools.  We will be sending all schools an instruction email after registration, and the last date for letting us know the shoes are collection ready is Thursday 30st April.

Question 10

What type of shoes are you accepting?

Accepted Answer

The NGOs we work with in Africa, use recreation games and activities, alongside learning to get kids involved in education, hence we need sports shoes:

General sneakers/trainers  👟
Soccer/GAA/Rugby Boots  ⚽🏉
Not general purpose shoes ❌

It’s really important to make sure we only get the correct type and condition of the shoes we need, otherwise we will end up a huge number of shoes that are unsuitable, which  will present significant environmental and logistical challenges.

Question 11

What condition should the shoes be in?

Accepted Answer

We really need sports and school shoes that have been outgrown; ones that you would happily let your child continue to wear if they hadn’t.

Our main check is the question... “Could you see your child in them?”

And remember, is really important that pairs of shoes are securely together so they remain a pair when they make it to their new home in Africa.  We recommend tying securely together by their laces or using a cable tie, making sure its tightened fully.

Question 12

Are there any restrictions on shoe sizes?

Accepted Answer

No.  Lack of shoes is an issue across all ages in Africa.  However, we have seen in previous campaigns, as kids feet grow so quickly, their shoes tend to be in better condition than older teenagers or adults.

This means we do tend to be more in need of larger kid sizes (adult 4 - 7+).

Question 13

How do I donate shoes if my child does not attend a National School?

Accepted Answer

Some families will no longer have kids still in national schools, but will want to donate some shoes to the campaign.  We are going to direct these parents to their nearest national school which is participating in the campaign.   
  
All registered schools will be shown on our locator map within 72 hours of registering and we ask families to contact their closest registered school directly. If acceptable to the school, a donation drop-off will then need to be arranged with the school at convienient and agreed day and time.

Question 14

Do we have to use the lesson plan?

Accepted Answer

Not at all.  This is purely a supplementary educational tool for use where a teacher or school want to expand the scope of the Our Shoes campaign into a more general platform to learn about the lives of others in South Africa.

Question 15

Can kids send a note or picture with their shoes?

Accepted Answer

In previous campaigns some children have left notes for the children who will receive their shoes. It’s really thoughtful and creates a genuine warmth from both sides. If your child would like to join in, once they have written their note or drawn a picture, please pop the note securely inside the shoes.

We suggest that if kids want to include a note with their shoes, they should just talk about the sports they liked to play in the shoes they are donating -  sport has power to transcend countries and circumstance.

IMPORTANT – children should never provide any personal information on the notes other than their first name – no second names, emails, phone numbers, social media details, addresses etc...

Question 16

Do I need to clean the shoes?

Accepted Answer

If shoes are a little dirty we would appreciate you giving them a wipe down – this helps make the sorting of shoes quicker and more efficient as we don’t need to stop, inspect and clean.

Question 17

I did not recieve an email after registering. Why?

Accepted Answer

If you do not receive an email from us immediately following registration, please make sure you have our emails and/or domain set-up by your school as a safe sender to ensure receipt. You can also get in touch with us using the contact form on the website to let us know and we'll resend once you have made Our Shoes a safe sender.

FAQS

When does the 2026 campaign start?

What do we need to do as a school?

How and when do we register to take part in the campaign?

How do we get our donated shoes to you?

How do we pack the shoes for collection?

Do we need to attach anything to the donated shoes?

When do we tell parents about it?

What information do we tell parents?

When do schools ask kids to bring in shoes to school?

What type of shoes are you accepting?

What condition should the shoes be in?

Are there any restrictions on shoe sizes?

How do I donate shoes if my child does not attend a National School?

Do we have to use the lesson plan?

Can kids send a note or picture with their shoes?

Do I need to clean the shoes?

I did not recieve an email after registering. Why?

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

Head over to our Contact Us page if you have any further questions regarding the 2026 Ireland Our Shoes campaign.

FAQS

When does the 2026 campaign start?

What do we need to do as a school?

How and when do we register to take part in the campaign?

How do we get our donated shoes to you?

How do we pack the shoes for collection?

Do we need to attach anything to the donated shoes?

When do we tell parents about it?

What information do we tell parents?

When do schools ask kids to bring in shoes to school?

What type of shoes are you accepting?

What condition should the shoes be in?

Are there any restrictions on shoe sizes?

How do I donate shoes if my child does not attend a National School?

Do we have to use the lesson plan?

Can kids send a note or picture with their shoes?

Do I need to clean the shoes?

I did not recieve an email after registering. Why?

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?​

Head over to our Contact Us page if you have any further questions regarding the 2026 Ireland Our Shoes campaign.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?