Kit Store
We maintain a store of outdoor equipment for low-cost hire by local DofE groups, youth organisations and families at The Risk Factory, 20 New Mart Road, Edinburgh EH14 1RL
FOTA Members receive a 50% discount on hire rates, and can borrow equipment free of charge for 24 hours for equipment demonstration sessions as part of DofE expedition training.
Price List
See our price list and terms and conditions
Book Equipment
Download our booking form and return it by email
Become a Member
Local DofE groups and youth organisations can join us to access discounted kit hire rates
Kit Store Volunteering
We require volunteers to help operate the stores from March to October. This will include signing kit in and out (customer service), repairs and maintenance. The role is open to adult volunteers or it could be a DofE volunteering opportunity for a young person. Two hours every second week would be fantastic.
Team Volunteering Days
We can organise team volunteering days for your workplace, normally this would be during our quieter months of February, May, August and November. Contact us with your ideas.
Donations & Funding
Most of the equipment in our Kit Store has been purchased using grant funding, this allows us to buy quality equipment that is fit for purpose and having consistent stock helps ensure ongoing maintenance is cost-effective. Our equipment is very heavily used and eventually items need to be replaced.
Donate Old Equipment
If you have some equipment that no longer fits or perhaps you’ve stopped using something but it’s still in good condition, please let us know. Your old kit could help young people of limited means to undertake outdoor adventures in comfort. We can accept:
- Walking boots (leather only)
- Waterproof jackets (sizes 10/XS to XXL)
- Day sacks (25-40 litres)
- Rucsacks (60-70 litres)
- Sleeping bags (synthetic only)
- Alloy tent poles
- Plain alloy or steel tent pegs
Donate New Equipment
If you’d like to donate some new or nearly-new equipment, we’d be extremely grateful for anything from this list.
- Vango Mirage 300 or Helvellyn 200 tent
- Trangia 25-2UL with gas burner
- 8-person Storm Shelter (Vango/Rab/Terra Nova)
- Silva compass
- Ortlieb Map Case
- Vango Ultralite Pro 300 sleeping bag
We have other items on our wish list too so feel free to get in touch to discuss making the best use of your generosity.
Grant Funding
Charitable grants ensure we can maintain sufficient stock of good-quality outdoor equipment to meet demand for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions and in particular to make sure that young people who are financial disadvantaged can take part in outdoor activity, safely and in comfort. If you know about a source of funding which may benefit us, please get in touch.
Thanks to our Funders
Hire Charges
Equipment hire is charged on a per-week basis. At busy times (April-June), equipment will only be issued on Thursdays and all equipment must be returned on the following Wednesday.
Member groups receive a 50% discount on hire charges. We may offer a further 10% discount to Member groups who have a majority of financially disadvantaged participants.
Camping Kit
1-Person Tent
e.g. Vango Helium 200
- Members £6.50 /week
- Non-members £13 /week
2-Person Tent
e.g. Vango Tempest 200
- Members £8 /week
- Non-members £16 /week
3-Person Tent
e.g. Vango Mirage 300
- Members £12 /week
- Non-members £24 /week
Stove & Cookset
Trangia 25-2 UL with gas burner
- Members £3.50 /week
- Non-members £7 /week
Gas Cartridge
Highlander 230g butane/propane
- For sale at £5 each
Personal Kit
Hiking Boots
e.g. Anatom Q2 leather
European Sizes 35 to 48 (UK2 to 13)
- Members £3 /week
- Non-members £6 /week
Fleece
Mid-weight full zip fleece
Small (8-10), Medium (12-14), Large (16), XL (18-20)
- Members £1.50 /week
- Non-members £3 /week
Waterproof Jacket
e.g. Berghaus RG1, Craghoppers Kimba Lite
Small (8-10), Medium (12-14), Large (16), XL (18-20)
- Members £3.50 /week
- Non-members £7 /week
Waterproof Trousers
Tough, neoprene overtrousers
Small (28″-30″ / 8-10), Medium (32″-34″ / 12-14), Large (36″-38″ / 16-18)
- Members £2 /week
- Non-members £4 /week
Rucsack
Berghaus Trailhead 65 or Highlander Discovery 65, supplied with waterproof liner & raincover
- Members £3.50 /week
- Non-members £7 /week
Sleeping Bag & Liner
Various sleeping bags from 1 to 4 seasons
Supplied with a freshly laundered liner
- Members £3.50 /week
- Non-members £7 /week
Sleeping Mat
Multimat Discovery 9.5XL foam mat
Very warm and light
- Members £1.50 /week
- Non-members £3 /week
Headtorch
Various compact, lightweight headtorches ideal for camping. Add new batteries for £1.
- Members £1 /week
- Non-members £2 /week
Warm Hat, Scarf, Gloves, Sun Hat, Water Bottle, Hiking Socks
- Members 50p /item /week
- Non-members £1 /item /week
Midge Head Net
- Members £1 /week
- Non-members £2 /week
Team Kit
Team Kit Package
All the essential items each team needs to stay safe on expedition:
1× Group Shelter, 1× First Aid Kit, 1× Trowel, 2× Tick Removers, 2× Survival Bags, 2× Map Case, 2× Compass, 2× Hi Viz Vest
- Members £10 /week
- Non-members £20 /week
Maps
A wide selection of Ordnance Survey maps
1:25,000 for Lothians and Borders areas
1:50,000 for most of Scotland
- Members £1 /week
- Non-members £2 /week
Water Carrier
10 litre and 25 litre capacity
- Members £1 /week
- Non-members £2 /week
Terms and Conditions
Booking and Payment:
- Please contact us directly to book your collection and return appointments.
- Please submit your order by email to david.lane@awardsplus.org.uk. No bookings will be made unless appointments have been agreed for both collection and return.
- When we confirm your booking you must pay the full hire charge, even if you later change your order.
- If you need to change your collection or return times, or the items on your order, you must notify us in advance.
- We may refuse your booking if you have any overdue debts to us.
Collection and Return
- If the Kit Store is not open when you arrive to collect or return equipment, staff will be in the Risk Factory office.
- All collection and return appointments must be attended by an adult leader who can accept responsibility for the equipment on behalf of the Group.
- If you require additional items which you have not pre-booked, we will issue these if we have them available and we will invoice you afterwards.
- Occasionally, we may not be able to provide all the equipment you require due to other Groups’ late returns or damaged equipment. When this occurs we will provide a full refund for the items we cannot provide. We cannot accept liability for any consequential loss.
- No equipment will be issued if you have any overdue debts to Awards Plus.
Security Deposit
- At our discretion, we may require a security deposit of up to the full value of the equipment you are borrowing. We will accept cheque or cash.
- The deposit will be cashed immediately when any charges become overdue in relation to your hire.
- We will return your security deposit on request after all equipment hired by your Group has been returned.
Reponsibility for Equipment
- The leader requesting equipment is responsible for all equipment until it is returned to us as arranged.
- If you wish to pass on responsibility for equipment to your participants you will need to make your own agreements with them. You may wish to collect deposits.
Lost, damaged and dirty/wet equipment
- All equipment must be returned clean, dry and tidy for re-hiring. The only exception is boots, which must be clean and as dry as possible but are not required to be completely dry.
- Groups will be charged £5.00 for each item that is returned dirty or wet.
- Damaged or faulty equipment must be pointed out to us when you return it. You will be responsible for the cost of repairing any damage caused during your Group’s hire.
- Equipment that is lost or damaged beyond repair will be charged for at the cost of replacement.
Late Returns
- Equipment that is not returned at the agreed time will incur late charges equal to one week’s hire for each overdue item.
- When each late item is found, the Leader or whoever has it, should return it without delay to The Risk Factory by appointment.
- Items which are not returned within one week of the agreed time will incur further late charges equal to another week’s hire for each overdue item.
- Items which are not returned within two weeks of the agreed time will be deemed lost and the Group will be charged for full replacement with new for all outstanding items. This replacement charge is in addition to all previous late charges.
Cancellation Policy
- We will accommodate cancellations and postponements subject to availability and subject to the amount of notice you provide.
- At least 6 weeks’ notice, no charges will be made for postponement or we will provide a 90% refund for items that you cancel.
- Between 6 and 1 week’s notice, a 25% charge will apply for postponement to new dates. For items we are unable to supply on the new dates, and for any items you cancel, we will provide a 50% refund.
- Less than 1 week’s notice, a 50% charge will apply for postponement to new dates. For items we are unable to supply on the new dates, and for any items you cancel, we will provide a 50% refund.
- Cancellation of venture after collection: For Member groups only, if you collect equipment but cancel your venture for a reason outwith your control before departure, then if none of the equipment is used and it is all returned in perfect, re-stockable condition at the agreed time then we will offer a 50% credit towards your next hire.