Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking is a UK-registered charity and the world's only not-for-profit ball manufacturer, producing hand-stitched leather footballs and rugby balls in Kenya and Zambia to employ vulnerable adults and fund sport access and health-education programs for disadvantaged communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Alive and Kicking does
Alive and Kicking is a UK-registered charity and the self-described world's only not-for-profit ball manufacturer, founded in 2005 by Jim Cogan after he encountered ball-stitcher Moses Akama in Tanzania. The organization operates hand-stitched leather football, rugby ball, and specialty ball production at wholly-owned manufacturing centres in Kenya (led by Sheba Nyaronga) and Zambia (led by Jane Thiong'o); a Ghanaian centre was closed in October 2019 and transferred to local ownership under Pleimeiker Sports after failing to reach breakeven. Core technology is artisan hand-stitching of locally sourced leather from African tanneries, complemented by screen printing for custom designs (including UNHCR DreamBall and World Cup-style skins), a bell-ball/sound-ball line for visually impaired players, and circular-economy ball-repair services. Differentiated products include the Shika ball (recycled Southwest Airlines plane-seat leather, 2015) and FC88 upcycled-jersey footballs (2023).
The business runs a hybrid revenue model: hardware sales through e-commerce, historic UK retail (John Lewis), FC88 distribution into European football clubs, and field sales; plus donations, annual London 5-a-side corporate tournaments (£500-£900 per team, £10,000+ per event), licensing (UNHCR DreamBall), and repair services. All UK sales profits are reinvested into charitable programs. The customer and beneficiary base spans vulnerable adults in Africa (95% first-time formal employment), visually impaired children (5,000+ learners reached via Tucheze Pia with KESAVI and O365 Innovation Hub), refugees (UNHCR co-designed DreamBall), and UK care-system youth (ball libraries). Commercial buyers include Tottenham Hotspur, Club Brugge, the Dutch Football Federation, UNHCR, John Lewis, and Safaricom, while grant funders include UK Sport, Comic Relief, and Ulverscroft Foundation. Leadership is Ben Sadler (CEO), with a corporate-experienced Head of Growth (Catherine Orset, ex-Nike/Under Armour).
Alive and Kicking firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alive and Kicking
- Legal name
- Alive and Kicking
- Website
- https://aliveandkicking.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Alive and Kicking is a UK-registered charity and the world's only not-for-profit ball manufacturer, producing hand-stitched leather footballs and rugby balls in Kenya and Zambia to employ vulnerable adults and fund sport access and health-education programs for disadvantaged communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alive and Kicking industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards) (EDAEAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Soccer Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAC)
Keywords
Where Alive and Kicking is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Alive and Kicking business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sports Ball Sales: Sale of hand-stitched leather footballs, rugby balls, and specialty balls (bell balls, sound balls). Products sold in African markets, UK retail (John Lewis partnership), and online. All profits from UK sales reinvested into charitable work in Africa.
- Donations: Individual donations supporting ethical employment, ball donations, and health education programs in communities facing disadvantage.
- Fundraising Events: Annual 5-a-side football tournaments raising £10,000+ per event. Corporate team entries at £500-900 per team.
- Licensing - UNHCR DreamBall: Production of UNHCR Youth with Refugees Art Contest winning designs. Pre-order sales with proceeds going toward sport programmes for refugees.
- Ball Repair Services: Repair services for any football brand, expanding customer base and profit while maintaining social impact. Revenue supports community programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Football Products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Alive and Kicking product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alive and Kicking manufactures hand-stitched leather footballs, rugby balls, and adaptive sports balls (bell balls, sound balls) through manufacturing centres in Kenya and Zambia. The organisation operates a "Make, Play, Live" model that combines ethical employment for vulnerable adults, inclusive sport access programmes for disadvantaged children (including refugees and visually impaired youth), and health education on HIV, malaria, and mental health. All profits from ball sales are reinvested into the charitable mission.
Product overview
Alive and Kicking is the world's only not-for-profit ball manufacturer, producing hand-stitched sports balls (footballs and rugby balls) as a unified product line. Their core offering consists of leather footballs crafted by skilled artisans in Kenya and Zambia, complemented by adaptive sports products including bell balls for visually impaired players and sound balls for blind football. The organisation also produces specialty sustainable products including the Shika Ball (from recycled airplane seats) and upcycled footballs (from old teamwear via FC88 partnership). The Dreamball collaboration with UNHCR produces footballs designed by refugee youth. All products share the same hand-stitched craftsmanship, ethical manufacturing ethos, and community impact mission.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hand-Stitched Footballs Hand-stitched leather footballs crafted by skilled artisans in Kenya and Zambia using locally sourced materials. Designed for durability, performance, and purpose, with all profits supporting ethical manufacturing and community health education. Balls are biodegradable and last several times longer than mainstream footballs.
- Hand-Stitched Rugby Balls
- Bell Balls
- Sound Balls (Blind Football)
- Shika Ball Football made from recycled leather sourced from old Southwest Airlines airplane seats, manufactured in Kenya. Produced in partnership with Southwest Airlines, Gina Din Foundation, and GoodMaker Films.
- DreamBall Football designs created by young refugees and artists worldwide as part of UNHCR's Youth with Refugees Art Contest. Five winning designs are produced at Alive and Kicking's Kenyan centre, with proceeds supporting sport programmes for refugees.
- Uprecycled Footballs (FC88 Partnership) Premium footballs made entirely from outdated and damaged football jerseys, handcrafted by Alive and Kicking teams in Kenya and Zambia. Partnership with FC88 and European football clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Dutch football federation, and Club Brugge.
- Ball Repair Service
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,137 jobs created for adults from vulnerable job groups
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Alive and Kicking
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Alive and Kicking technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Alive and Kicking partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.
- This Is FC88 (FC88)corePremium footballs made from outdated and damaged football jerseys through co-development. Handmade by skilled teams in Kenya and Zambia. FC88 provides design expertise and distribution to European clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Dutch football federation, and Club Brugge.
- UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)coreDreamBall partnership producing footballs designed by young refugee artists from global contest. Five winning designs go into production at Kenyan centre. Proceeds support sport programmes for displaced communities.
- Southwest AirlineskeyShika ball initiative - 1,800 balls made from recycled leather of old plane seats. Trained ten young adults to stitch footballs. Partnership to create unique sustainable product.
- Gina Din FoundationminorPartner in Shika ball initiative with Southwest Airlines and GoodMaker Films.
- GoodMaker FilmsminorPartner in Shika ball initiative documenting and supporting the project.
- John LewiskeyHistoric Balls For Africa partnership - African made footballs sold in UK retailer for first time. Matched ball donations program.
- KESAVIkeyImplementing partner in Kenya for inclusive sports education program, working with Ministry of Education to embed programs in national structures.
- Kenya Society for the BlindkeyPartner for football for the blind programs, offering eye checks and linkages to schools. Supports awareness on futsal for visually impaired.
- Sport In ActionkeyImplementation partner for Mental Health Education in Zambia, operating since 2021 in Lusaka, Kabwe, and Livingstone.
- Tag Rugby TrustminorRugby balls donated for grassroots rugby development in Zambia's poorest regions.
- Entebbe SharksminorGirls' rugby initiative in Uganda received ball donations.
- Uganda Ladies Rugby TeamminorWomen's rugby team received ball donations for development.
- Designs in MindminorSocial enterprise creating bespoke trophies for UK Social Enterprise Awards, employing people with mental health problems.
- Pleimeiker SportskeyGhanaian-run sports equipment business taking over local management after A+K Ghana closure. For-profit but employs disadvantaged people and contributes to sport for good projects.
- FBN BankkeySponsor and co-organizer of annual 5-a-side fundraising tournaments in London.
- Business Council for AfricakeyCo-organizer of annual 5-a-side tournaments with Alive and Kicking.
- Dagoretti Subcounty Hospital MutuinikeyLocal hospital partner for World AIDS Day testing event, providing medical expertise and testing venue.
- SOS Children's Villageskey1,000 high quality leather balls donated from Shika ball initiative to children's charity.
- VistaminorCollaboration on carbon footprint measurement. Vista ball carbon footprint measured at 3.2kg CO2 compared to 7kg for normal football sold in France.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alive and Kicking competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Adidas: Global sporting goods giant and football market leader, also manufacturer of hand-stitched balls (Adidas trained A+K co-founder Moses Akama). Comparable as the dominant commercial counterpart whose products A+K explicitly differentiates from on durability and ethics grounds.
- Puma: Major football and athletic goods manufacturer with a growing sustainability and social impact agenda. Comparable broad incumbent in football equipment manufacturing competing for the same end consumer and club partnership deals.
- Decathlon: Global sporting goods retailer and manufacturer including footballs and rugby balls under its Kipsta brand. Comparable on retail distribution and value-tier football products, with growing own-brand sustainability commitments.
- Wilson Sporting Goods: Major sporting goods manufacturer producing footballs, rugby balls, and a wide range of team sports equipment. Broad incumbent comparable on product category and global distribution even though A+K's rugby ball line is donation-led rather than commercial.
- Nike: World's largest sportswear brand and football manufacturer, plus former employer of A+K's Head of Growth (Catherine Orset). Highly relevant broad incumbent whose sustainability push and football range represent both competition and partnership opportunities.
Emerging players
- Fair Trade Sports: Fair trade certified sports equipment brand focused on ethical manufacturing of balls and team sports gear. Emerging player with similar values-driven positioning targeting schools, clubs, and impact-conscious consumers.
- The Oddballs Foundation: UK-based charity raising awareness of testicular cancer through sport, with strong football and rugby ball distribution programmes. Thematic peer operating in the intersection of sports equipment and charitable impact, comparable audience and partnership model.
Others
- Patagonia: While not a ball manufacturer, Patagonia is a leading example of a purpose-driven outdoor brand using recycled materials and supply chain ethics. Relevant adjacent comparable for the sustainability narrative, upcycled product positioning, and donated-portion business model that resonates with A+K's club and consumer partners.
Direct peers
- Mitre Sports: Established UK-based football equipment brand with deep roots in hand-stitched ball manufacturing. Direct peer in the football/rugby ball category with overlapping UK retail distribution and grassroots sports positioning.
- Select Sport: Danish hand-stitched football manufacturer specializing in premium match balls. Closest direct peer on the core product (hand-stitched leather footballs) though Select operates purely commercially without the not-for-profit mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alive and Kicking social profiles
Digital presenceAlive and Kicking financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alive and Kicking leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Alive and Kicking subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Alive and Kicking funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alive and Kicking M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alive and Kicking
What does Alive and Kicking do?
Alive and Kicking manufactures hand-stitched leather footballs, rugby balls, and adaptive sports balls (bell balls, sound balls) through manufacturing centres in Kenya and Zambia. The organisation operates a "Make, Play, Live" model that combines ethical employment for vulnerable adults, inclusive sport access programmes for disadvantaged children (including refugees and visually impaired youth), and health education on HIV, malaria, and mental health. All profits from ball sales are reinvested into the charitable mission.
Is Alive and Kicking a public or private company?
Alive and Kicking is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alive and Kicking founded?
Alive and Kicking was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Alive and Kicking based?
Alive and Kicking is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Alive and Kicking make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Sports Ball Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations, fundraising Events, licensing - UNHCR DreamBall and ball Repair Services.
Who are Alive and Kicking's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Adidas, Puma, Decathlon, Wilson Sporting Goods and Nike. Emerging players are Fair Trade Sports and The Oddballs Foundation. Patagonia is listed as an others. Direct peers are Mitre Sports and Select Sport.
Does Alive and Kicking have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alive and Kicking.
What industry is Alive and Kicking in?
Alive and Kicking's product category is Sports Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAG, Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards), with a secondary code of CRAMAEAC, Soccer Equipment Retail. Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.