HF Holidays, Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative, has funded 100 Waterproofs & Wellies kits for 10 primary schools across England, including Freshwater & Yarmouth CE Primary School here on the Isle of Wight.
As the longest-established walking holiday organisation in the UK, the donation reflects HF Holidays’ belief in the lifelong benefits of time spent in the outdoors and the importance of access to the countryside, while helping to remove one of the simplest yet most significant barriers for some primary schools – children not having the right kit to stay warm and dry outside.
For many families, the cost of waterproofs and wellies are simply out of reach, meaning children can miss out on outdoor lessons and playtime on wet days through no fault of their own. In the UK, 4.5 million children were living in poverty after housing costs in 2023/24 – around 31% of all children, or roughly 9 pupils in every class of 30 at state primary schools.
The Outdoor Guide Foundation’s Waterproofs and Wellies initiative is tackling this issue head-on, by partnering with like-minded organisations to provide high-quality, shared outdoor clothing kits for schools. Backed by HF Holidays, the programme helps ensure every child can join in with outdoor play and learning.
The first delivery took place at Freshwater & Yarmouth CE Primary School this week, where Wendy Allford, House Manager at HF Holidays’ Freshwater Bay Country House, presented kits to pupils and staff.
The school uses outdoor space for nature-based learning, gardening and play – experiences that are now accessible to all children.
It marks the first of 10 deliveries to schools located close to HF Holidays’ country houses across the UK, embedding the initiative directly within local communities.
As a certified B Corp, HF Holidays’ support comes through its Pathways Fund, which is dedicated to protecting the countryside and widening access to it. Funded by donations from members and guests, the initiative reflects the co-operative’s long-standing ethos that the outdoors should be open to everyone.
Chris Simmonds, CEO of HF Holidays, explains:
“This initiative perfectly embodies the purpose of our Pathways Fund. With generous support from our members and guests, we are delighted to partner with the Outdoor Guide Foundation to provide outdoor kits to ten schools across the country. We strongly believe in the value of outdoor activities, regardless of weather, and eliminating obstacles like this is vital for the wellbeing of the next generation.”
Callum McCarty, Outdoor Learning Lead, Freshwater & Yarmouth School, says:
“We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation. Outdoor learning and nature exploration are vital parts of our curriculum, and this contribution will significantly enhance those experiences. It ensures that every single pupil can get stuck into muddy, hands-on learning without hesitation, fostering their curiosity and love for the environment.”
