The Outdoor Guide Foundation is a charitable arm of The Outdoor Guide - a website developed by outdoor television presenter, Julia Bradbury and her sister, Gina. Our mission is to make the outdoor accessible to everyone - and that starts with children.

Nearly one third of primary school children in the United Kingdom come from families that are living below the poverty line. This means there is little money for household essentials, let alone money left over to buy suitable clothing for outdoor play. That's where we come in. Our aim over the next five years is to donate at least 10 waterproof suits and wellies to every state primary school in the country - all 20,000 of them.

Why? Because we know the importance of time spent outside. Not just for our physical health but for our mental health too. The World Health Organisation has already warned of another looming global pandemic - this time, a mental health crisis. That includes children - 75% of all mental health problems are established by the time someone is 18 years old. Head over to our website for more information .

What are the barriers to getting children outdoors?

Anecdotally we’ve been told that the main reason children aren’t getting outdoors is the lack of appropriate clothing for the inclement weather we have here in the UK.

Chris Rowley, a teacher from the West Pennine Moors told us.

“Currently, we plan ahead and text parents to bring in suitable kit; this has drawbacks as kit is forgotten, or inappropriate for that day’s weather etc. It would be so nice to be able to grab 30 kits straight off the shelf and go out into the countryside at a moment’s notice. The issue is how we would fund purchasing 30 kits. Sadly, as a small school, funding is extremely tight and we only have a limited number of children who have PP funding.”

We’re not talking about anything technical – a pair of wellington boots, waterproof jacket and trousers and you’re ready for anything. We have been negotiating with suppliers and have the support of Dunlop, to find a cost effective way of making these kits available.

Julia Bradbury says, “I am thrilled to be supporting this and encouraging more children to get outside in all weathers! These packs have been sourced as the basic gear that will allow children to have wonderful outdoor experiences, whatever the weather.”

This is how your donation can support children across schools in the UK.

£30.00 – will buy and deliver 1 complete kit to a school

£300.00 – will buy and deliver 10 complete kits to a school

£1,200 – will buy and deliver 40 complete kits to 4 schools

£10,000 – will provide kits for schools you choose in a specific area

Thank you for your valuable support, for further information and to find out how you could get involved or help with our aims, please email: gina@theoutdoorguide.co.uk or visit www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org.

The Outdoor Guide is a free online hub for all things walking in the UK. The site provides suggested walking routes along with recommendations for places to visit, experience, eat, drink and sleep along the way. For more information please visit www.theoutdoorguide.co.uk