Tough Girl Podcast Cherelle Harding - Founder of Steppers UK. Encouraging Diversity Outdoors, Supporting Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority communities to build positive relationships with the outdoors.
Aug 19, 2021
37:07
Words by Cherelle: Steppers UK is an outdoors organisation that aims to encourage diverse and under represented communities to participate in outdoor activities. Currently, Steppers UK focuses on hiking and cycling with plans to explore the outdoors further in the future. The inspiration behind Steppers UK comes from wanting to improve representation in the outdoors & change the image & stigma associated with being ‘outdoorsy’ or enjoying outdoor activities. Many communities have a heritage in Africa, The Caribbean & Asia, where nature is in abundance and very much part of culture, however, there is a disconnect with the people of the diaspora. We have lost contact with nature. Steppers UK aims:
- Promote diversity within outdoor spaces & improve access for those lacking ability, representation, or opportunity
- Increase the physical & mental well-being of our participants
- Normalise the visibility of Black & Brown faces within outdoor activities
- Support participates to eradicate any fears & stigmas associated with the outdoors
- Provide fun & therapeutic experiences in nature
- Create communities of outdoor enthusiasts & equip them with the skills and knowledge required for outdoor activities to become a recreational part of their lives
- Create more environmentally friendly communities
- Through outdoor activities create spaces to build healthier, caring, and open-minded communities.
- Founder of Steppers UK
- What Steppers UK does
- Working with young people as a youth worker
- Not having much experience with the outdoors when growing up
- Finding out that she likes spending time in the outdoors
- Being sporty and enjoying basketball
- Climbing her first mountain and her first WOW moment
- Taking the next steps to spend more time in the outdoors
- Finding a love for Reggae music
- Spending time as a volunteer in Jamaica and Malawi
- Working with young people as a youth worker
- Encouraging teenagers to step outside their comfort zone
- Launching Steppers UK in 2020
- Leading walks for Black Girls Hike
- Black Lives Matter Movement
- Where the Steppers name comes from
- Sharing the walks via social media
- Starting her own personal challenge
- Being filled with joy from going on these walks
- Walking as a solo woman
- Wanting to be present while out on walks
- Experiences the benefits from walking and spending time outside
- Gear for beginners
- What can you do with what you’ve got
- What can you do with normal grip trainers
- Investing in gear when you find out if you like the outdoors or not
- Role models in the outdoors
- Learning about the outdoor industry
- Future plans and dreams for Steppers UK
- Wanting to encourage young people to use nature as therapy
- Dreaming on a mini bus
- The power of going on one walk
- Making the outdoors fun
- Funding of walks and Steppers UK
- Frequency of walks
- Wanting to get qualifications in the outdoors
- Taking on a new challenge to visit all 46 Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England & Wales
- The challenge of leading groups
- Limiting the groups to around 20 people
- The Nature Fix Project
- How to connect with Cherelle and Steppers UK
- Top tips and advice
- The benefits of starting small
- “Don’t underestimate the power of nature, and nature is truly healing, and it's freedom”