Some of the UK’s leading outdoor organisations are looking to make their work more inclusive, and are calling on walkers and climbers to complete a new survey to help.
Header image: a Black Girls Hike walk in the Peak District
The survey is part of a project called ‘Your movement matters’ which aims to find out more about the type of people participating in different types of outdoor and climbing activity, ranging from walking in local parks or climbing at indoor walls, to camping, hiking and rock climbing in the mountains.
Backed by eight organisations, including the British Mountaineering Council and the Ramblers, the project aims to help each organisation improve their approach to diversity and inclusion.
Participants in the survey can choose to be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 voucher for Ellis Brigham.
Challenge
John Cousins, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Training UK & Ireland, said: “We know that we have a challenge with equity and diversity in the outdoors. We have some headline statistics about those who participate less and they are particularly people from an ethnic minority background, women and those with a disability or long-term health condition.
“When it comes to taking action to change those headline statistics, there’s not enough detail to help us understand what’s making a difference or which groups of people are participating in which activity. This research project will allow us to close the data gaps, establish clear baselines for participation in each style of activity and develop the resources available to support driving lasting change.”
The research is being carried out by Leeds Beckett University and data is being collected through a survey. The survey is an opportunity to find out, much like the recent census, more about the age, gender, ethnic background, sexuality, disability status and faith of those who walk, climb and camp. It will also target those who are not currently participating to better understand what barriers prevent them from taking part.
Everyone welcome
Kath Hipwell, Chief Executive of the Association of British Climbing Walls, said, “No one is defined by a single characteristic, so the ability to view this data in its entirety will allow us to build a better picture of the individuals who do and don’t participate, in our case, in indoor climbing, and why.
“This will enable our member climbing walls to better understand the needs of different groups and make relevant adjustments to their offer to make sure everyone is made to feel welcome in climbing and enabled to participate.”
