Inclusivity outdoors: findings and action plans from a UK inquiry

Anderson, Neal, Duffy, Anoushka, Loynes, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9779-7954 , McCabe, Gina, Midhal, Mohammed and O'Brian, Kate (2022) Inclusivity outdoors: findings and action plans from a UK inquiry. In: 9th International Outdoor Education Research Conference (IOERC9), 18-22 July 2022, Ambleside, UK. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The UK Landscapes Review (Glover, 2018) highlighted the challenges in addressing issues of diversity in national parks and AONB as well as concerns around inclusion in outdoor activities and nature connection more widely. These concerns are reported as often intersecting with other issues of socioeconomic inequalities, urban poverty and multiple inequalities. In 2021 a consortium of partners, the Institute for Outdoor Learning, the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, Mosaic Outdoors, Outward Bound and the University of Cumbria, organised a webinar series that provided an opportunity for the UK Outdoor Sector to explore a range of themes around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the outdoors. An intersectional framework was used to identify and analyse the data collated within the webinar series. The ‘data’ was drawn from the lived experiences shared, demographics and insights of attendees. In addition, an integrated review of UK and international literature was conducted. The webinar series demonstrated the perceived and experienced ‘intersectional issues’ across ‘under-served’ communities in the outdoors (Batten, 2020). Perceptions and understanding were identified as the biggest ‘barrier’ to inclusivity in the outdoors. History, language, and privilege were revealed to be important factors in this. Whilst the outdoor learning field has much to do in order to be more equitable and inclusive of diverse groups, there are clear indicators of how individual volunteers and professionals, organisations and national bodies can make a difference. There are examples of excellent practice within the field to draw from.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Departments:	Institute of Science and Environment > Outdoor Studies Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas (CNPPA)
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	27 Sep 2022 09:48
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2024 09:53
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/6610

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