A Housing Plus Group tenant is helping thousands of people enjoy the benefits of the outdoors through a charity that gives unwanted outdoor clothing and equipment a second life.
What started in Fran Pearson’s living room in 2020 has since helped more than 5,000 people get outdoors.
Her charity Kitsquad redistributes outdoor gear to people who might otherwise struggle to access it, helping remove financial barriers to activities such as camping, hiking and outdoor education while reducing waste at the same time.
For Fran, the outdoors played an important role during a difficult period in her own life.
The mum-of-two was working as a psychologist for the NHS and living in a four-bedroom detached home when her daughter Penny was born.
“I knew within 30 minutes there was a problem,” said Fran.
Penny was later diagnosed with Turner syndrome, a rare genetic condition that occurs at random. Following the breakdown of her marriage, Fran became a single parent and gave up work to care for her daughter.
“I went from being married with children to being a single parent, on benefits, with a disabled child. It wasn’t on my life plan,” she said.
Fran moved into a Housing Plus Group home in Shropshire and got a Bedlington Terrier, which she says ‘saved her life’.
“I’d drop the kids off at school, pack my rucksack and off we’d go for the day,” she said.
“I realised the impact being out in nature had on me. When I was out in nature I could think through my problems.”
It was during this time that Fran began to appreciate just how important access to the outdoors can be for health and wellbeing.
The idea for Kitsquad came when her children brought home camping kit lists for Cubs and Scouts. As a family that had always enjoyed outdoor activities, Fran already had the equipment they needed, but she began to wonder how many other families were missing out simply because they could not afford the kit.
“Everything is so expensive now and everyone is feeling the pinch,” she said.
“There’s nothing worse than your children wanting to do something that benefits them and not being able to do it because you simply can’t afford it, so I wanted to help with that.”
The charity has helped more than 5,000 people to get outdoors by collecting donated clothing and equipment and redistributing it to those who need it most.
Fran also wanted to stop perfectly usable outdoor kit going to waste.
Fran and her team attend festivals across England to collect tents and sleeping bags that have been left behind but are still in good condition.
“I still think we’ve barely scratched the surface,” she said.
“For the people we help, it can be life changing. I was talking to a guy last week who’d had kit from us a year ago. He’d come out of rehab and was struggling.
“He said getting outside really helped him to transition back into everyday life. Now he’s working, no longer on benefits and said we were part of that process.
“That’s nice to see, when people turn their lives around and you’ve been able to play a small part in that.”
In 2023, Kitsquad moved into Atcham Business Park in Shrewsbury and remains entirely volunteer led.
“People say what you’ve set up is amazing, but the amazing part is the people who donate to us,” she said.
“If people didn’t donate, there would be no Kitsquad. We’re completely reliant on the generosity of others. They’re the real heroes and we’re just the middleman.”
Housing Plus Group has supported Kitsquad through its Community Fund, helping more people who cannot afford outdoor equipment get the kit they need.
Applications for kit are subject to eligibility criteria. Full details can be found on the Kitsquad website.
To apply for kit, visit https://kitsquad.co.uk/apply-for-gear/.
To donate unwanted outdoor clothing or equipment, items can be dropped off or posted to:
Unit 44, Atcham Business Park,
Atcham,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire,
SY4 4UG