Thinking of upgrading your gear this winter from your favourite outdoor shop uk, then why not make a difference and give your old gear to help get youngsters more active. The British Heart Foundation has shown from research that the physical fitness and health of children can be substantially enhanced by physical activity, and it also reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Children’s Society has added that outdoor activities provide one of the best forms of exercise that children, of all ages, can undertake.

However, the ability to pay for appropriate clothing and equipment is the most common reason given for youngsters not being able to participate in enjoying what the outdoors can offer. It is difficult to enjoy something when you are cold, wet and decidedly uncomfortable, plus you are even less likely to what to participate in that activity ever again. So in the forgotten naria-esque corners of the country’s wardrobes, attics and garages is a possible solution; those unrequired pieces of kit and clothing that no longer fit and are just gathering dust because you haven’t quite got round to getting rid of them

Gift your Gear is a new nationwide initiative that provides clothing and equipment to various community organisation, youth groups and charities who ware working with young people on outdoor projects. The initiative stresses how important it is to reuse gear that still has plenty of life in it. We all tend to replace gear, upgrading it as we increase our outdoor pursuits, before it is on its last legs so its full potential is never met. Think about it and when you get your new winter jacket for example someone could use your old jacket to experience both the great outdoors, but with good useable gear as well.

The aim is to see one million items of unwanted gear reused. This might seem a big target, but it is estimated that over one million tonnes of clothing is discarded every year in the UK. Of this about one third is reused or recycled, so that means that almost 700,000 tonnes is still ending up in landfill. So check out there website and see how you can help.

So why not make a difference when you get your new winter kit from your outdoor shop uk, and donate your old items. Think of the benefits, for the environment, giving someone else the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and you end up with a bit more space at home.