Alpkit, the Nottingham-based Alpine adventure sports brand and online retailer, has set up a new charity to help individuals, schools and expedition leaders organise trips which would not otherwise be possible. The Alpkit Foundation, an independent charity, will also provide funding for conservation projects throughout the UK.

Funded by individual donations, Alpkit is donating 1% of its sales every month along with proceeds from events such as its annual Big Shakeout Festival to the charity. A minimum of 10% of Alpkit’s annual profit will be donated to the Foundation.

David Hanney, Alpkit CEO, said: “The health and social benefits of outdoor recreation are well-documented alongside the important personal development opportunities that expeditions further afield offer young people in particular. But all too often these opportunities are missed due to lack of funding for critical equipment, transport or qualified support staff such as first aiders or mountain leaders."

“The Alpkit Foundation will help to plug these gaps and allow people of all ages, from all walks of life, get outdoors in a way that wouldn’t be possible without our help. The charity will also support the invaluable work of conservation bodies which protect the environment in which these activities take place, safeguarding them for future generations.”

Anyone can donate to the charity and every penny goes directly to support outdoor recreation, education, expeditions and conservation.

David Hanney added: “The support that the Alpkit Foundation provides is invariably in the form of direct action be it financial, discounted equipment or technical training. In short, we want to make it easy for more people to be more active outdoors. It’s all about helping real people, do real things with a minimum of fuss. The criteria are simple: if your project meets our aims and we have the money then you’ll get our support.”

The charity’s trustees meet every month to review applications – anyone interested in applying should go to: www.alpkit.com/foundation#apply

To make a donation, please go to www.alpkit.com/foundation#donate