How Kitsquad’s Fran Pearson helped nearly 5,000 people in poverty to access outdoors gear

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

How Kitsquad’s Fran Pearson helped nearly 5,000 people in poverty to access outdoors gear

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

Liv Bolton and Fran Pearson in a wood where they recorded their episode

In this episode, Liv Bolton is off to Shropshire for a walk — and a bit of a splash — with Fran Pearson.

Fran is the founder of Kitsquad, a brilliant outdoors charity that’s already helped nearly 5,000 people experiencing poverty to get properly kitted out for adventures in nature.

Think waterproofs, sleeping bags, rucksacks, walking boots — all donated, and all making a world of difference.

Fran’s passion for the outdoors comes from a deeply personal place. And living in social housing and experiencing the realities of life on benefits, Fran knows just how expensive outdoor gear can be — and how that cost can be a major barrier to getting outside safely and confidently.

So, in 2020, she set up Kitsquad — turning generosity into access, and tackling gear poverty head-on.

Liv joined Fran for a walk near her home in Shropshire. It started off a little soggy— but they dried off inside the Kitsquad warehouse, surrounded by shelves of donated jackets, boots, sleeping bags, and stories.

Wanting to hear more about what inspired Fran to start the charity, Liv also asked why she’s so passionate about breaking down the cost barriers to the outdoors.

Photo of a camera filming Liv and Chantelle who are sitting on a log

We hope you enjoy this episode and a big thank you to Fran and the volunteers of Kitsquad too!

Please be aware that there’s a discussion around a period of difficult mental health in it, so you can find more information and support on the Mind or Samaritans websites.

Fran Pearson’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

You can find photos of all the podcast guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix

Kitsquad is on Instagram @kitsquad1

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

Liv and Fran Pearson inside the Kitsquad warehouse in Shropshire

Liv and Fran Pearson sitting on a log for their recording of The Outdoors Fix podcast

Liv and Chantelle sitting on a log to record the episode

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.