Data shows that in England, those from ethnic minorities visit the natural environment 60% less than the rest of the population. Sport England’s Active Lives research also shows that men are more likely to be active than women and there is very limited data in relation to other demographics including faith.
The aim of the project is to build a clear picture of what participation in walking and climbing currently looks like to support the development and implementation of evidence-based diversity and inclusion strategies within each organisation. It’s all about understanding who is and who is not participating in the different styles of walking and climbing.
Every type of movement counts, from walking in local parks or climbing at an indoor wall to camping, hiking and rock climbing adventures in the mountains. Whether you participate once a year, every day, or don’t know how to get started, your movement matters. The research is being carried out by Leeds Beckett University.
“We know that we have a challenge with equity and diversity in the outdoors,” said John Cousins, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Training UK & Ireland. “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.”
'We know that we have a challenge with equity and diversity in the outdoors'
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.”
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