November 28, 2024 Inclusivity in outdoor spaces: NGO shares barriers, progress and an upcoming European-first report
The European outdoor industry has faced significant challenges in addressing inclusivity. Phil Young, founder of Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO), shares how education and representation are driving change.
While inclusivity has become a lively topic in the U.S. outdoor industry, its European counterpart has been slower to address the challenges. Social, cultural, and environmental barriers have long left People of Color feeling unrepresented and unwelcome in outdoor spaces.
“For a long time, the outdoor industry in Europe had a general lack of awareness on this subject and was not ready or willing to speak about it,” says Phil Young, founder of the not-for-profit initiative Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO). He explains that by 2021, both the industry and communities were ready for change, leading to the creation of OUTO.
Pioneering inclusivity through education and advocacy
Since its founding, OUTO has rapidly expanded, forming a diverse network of advocates and allies in the outdoor sector. Despite progress, Young acknowledges that framing inclusivity as a priority remains a challenge.
“We have still encountered some challenges with conveying the problem that exists in the outdoors when it comes to inclusion because it is still such a new conversation for many,” Young notes.
For OUTO, the next step involves demonstrating the real-world barriers that prevent equitable participation in outdoor activities. “It’s imperative that we illustrate for the industry what these barriers look like, how they are experienced, and what best-practice looks like for removing them,” he emphasizes.
To maintain momentum, OUTO will soon release its first-ever report on inclusivity in the European outdoor industry.
“We are excited to share that we will be launching our first-ever report that unpacks exactly this—the first of its kind in the outdoor industry here in Europe,” Young announces.
Lead Photo: The Changemaker Programme is OUTO’s accelerator for people of color, supporting them to build and scale outdoor initiatives with grants and mentorship (Credit: OUTO)
