Helping ensure outdoor fun is accessible to every child.
There’s a well-known saying that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”. At Sanderson Transport, our team is used to being out there in all weathers, kitted out to do their job in the worst our British climate can throw at us!
It comes as no surprise then, that we’re a big advocate of the benefits of getting outdoors and active, especially when it comes to the children in our community. We believe it’s a vital part of every child’s development to be able to get outside in nature, come rain or shine, and there are many local initiatives championing that cause. However, a third of children in UK state primary schools still continue to miss out. They’re the ones who can’t join in simply because they don’t own a pair of wellies or even a waterproof coat to enable them to enjoy getting outdoors all year round.
That’s where pioneering organisation The Outdoor Guide (or TOG) Foundation comes in.
They’re an NFP on a mission to support local primary schools by providing outdoor clothing to ensure every child has the opportunity to take part in outdoor activities. Now London-based, founder Gina Bradbury grew up in Rutland, and our long-standing family friendship led to a natural partnership to help distribute sets of weatherproof clothing to the schools that need it most, across the UK. Our ability to offer a speedy and flexible fulfilment service, supported by our nationwide groupage network, means that we can store, pick, pack and deliver suits wherever and whenever they are needed – safely, and at low cost.
Launched in March 2021, The Outdoor Guide Foundation is supported by TV presenter and outdoor enthusiast Julia Bradbury, and childrens’ TV presenter Gemma Hunt from CBeebies. Since January 2022 the project has gone from strength to strength, and has now started to be rolled out across the country. Their mission is to make the outdoors accessible for all. Their vision, to create a national network that links local businesses to nearby schools, to support them by sponsoring at least ten sets of various sized wellies and waterproofs per school, at a cost of £30 per set.
“As the organisation reaches its 3000th suit, we’re proud to have played our part to ensure each safely reaches its destination. To further our support we’re pleased to have been able to help the “Corby Old Village Primary School''; a local primary school close to our operation here in Corby, with sponsoring multiple outdoor suits for their reception class. Furthermore I’d like to send a rallying call for other businesses across the UK to do the same.”
Ed Sanderson,
Commercial Director
Gina Bradbury, CEO of The Outdoor Guide Foundation, adds:
We are thrilled to partner with Stephen Sanderson Transport. They embody our values of family, opportunity and trust, and we know they care enough to ensure every single consignment is delivered safely – no matter how small - and with a level of care that reassures. Currently, 300 schools are on the waiting list for waterproofs and wellies, and this is growing fast. There are more than 20,000 state primary schools in the UK, and as the project gathers pace, schools across the country are hearing about us and nominating themselves for support. We have a monumental task ahead! If every local business followed the incredible lead of Sanderson and joined our other partners and supporters, every school in the UK could benefit from a set of outdoor clothing, opening a whole new world to those children who currently have to miss out.
If you’d like to find out more about The Outdoor Guide Foundation and how you can become involved, go to www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org
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