Ethnic Minorities: is it safe to explore the Open Spaces of England?
Author: Lisa Walker
1 Commentries
History of Ethnic Minority Groups
There is unambiguous evidence to show that low-income earners, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, and disabled persons, under-participate in countryside recreation'.
Black and ethnic minority communities are concentrated in the larger cities, particularly in London where they represent about 30% of the population, yet their perceptions, experiences and thoughts about the British countryside and rural services are rarely considered.
Nearly 8 per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority, and yet they make up only 1 per cent of the visitors to National Parks
Negative Perceptions and External Influences
One of the biggest problems for ethnic minorities' visiting the countryside and other natural open spaces is that there are not many other ethnic people there; this can encourage a sense of alienation.
The city has to appear as an innovative exciting, creative and safe place to live, play and consume, from this a prejudice, especially if people in the countryside have had little contact with ethnic minorities and the only experience they have had of them is via the media.
Further perceptions of the English open spaces may be due to safety issues, cultural beliefs, going to be involved in getting dirty.
It has been recognises that the free time of black and minority ethnic groups is often devoted to 'intra-community' activities, family life, and 'personal development' activities such as further and higher education. From this view it may be assumed that ethnic groups may consider activities outside of these may be a waste of time as it may not benefit their development and opportunities for a good career and life.
Strategies
Ethnic groups are more likely to face exclusion than others because they believe they suffer from 'powerlessness' and 'inequality of opportunity'. As a result, insufficient attention has been paid to including the experiences and views of minority ethnic groups in rural research and policy-making and in shaping strategies for the delivery of services in rural areas.
A pro-active approach is required to encouraging the use of open spaces by local communities and to the involvement of local people in the development and management of the countryside and green spaces.
Many new strategies reach out to the 'youth' of the communities, BEN is dedicated to encourage the involvement of the youth demographic in ethnic groups.
Members of BEN believe it is important for black people to have a voice in Britain's environmental heritage and future, as these experiences as they really opened up a whole new world for them.
To engage more ethnic minority communities in the environment they need opportunities to see what is on offer. Providing targeted experiences and the chance to have an experience in the country is a good way of doing this.
In order to break down the stereotypes and barriers between ethnic groups and communities the Countryside Commission are using a 'bridge' in the urban fringe areas of the UK, as it offers the opportunity to merge the two conflicting developments and their communities
Non-departmental public body (NDPB) such as Natural England have introduced a main scheme: Action Research Projects (ARPs) this is a tool in place to help to increase the diversity of countryside visitors. There are four main projects to help reach that aim in selected parts of England:
Beyond the Boundary - this tests whether the barriers of confidence and lack of information by Black and Minority Ethnic communities can be overcome through supporting urban and rural communities to twin with one another.
By All Means -Testing whether a measurable increase in the level of access to Kent's countryside routes and sites can be achieved through working closely with disabled people and their representative organisations through all phases of planning, development and management.
Finding Common Ground - Testing whether engaging with women and their families in inner city Plymouth, and linking them with women in rural communities, increases their confidence and unlocks their ability to access the Devon countryside.
Conclusion
The key findings of this conference paper are that the main issues are the barriers that have been formed between the ethnic groups and the 'hosts' in the open spaces in Britain.
The attentions have not been to including the experiences and views of minority ethnic groups in rural research and policy-making to ensure all members of the community benefit from their surrounding this is to be done though shaping strategies.
The lack of information, effective interpretation, and appropriate activities contribute to feelings of alienation, and increased the boundaries as negative images of the countryside and seaside areas became a focused aspect.
The key to resolving these concerns was by using media, and focused strategies on the ethnic youth, would make it possible to overcome communication problems without necessarily reducing the natural qualities of the environment itself.
Offering activities to provide a positive experience of the countryside, such as escorted visits, led walks, mentoring schemes and personal contact, all help to increase participation.
In addition using the resource of the community these schemes may be able to disregard many racial stereotypes, as well as reducing the ethnic minorities' views of the countryside.
Reference
Brown, A., Johal, S., and Wong, J.L., (1996-7) BEN- Environmental Ethnic Youth Work, First Year Report
Morris, N., (2003) OPENspace: the research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments, Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Natural England (2008) Action Research Projects [Online] Available at: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/outdoorsforall/diversityreview/actionresearch/default.aspx [Accessed 16/04/10]
There is unambiguous evidence to show that low-income earners, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, and disabled persons, under-participate in countryside recreation'.
Black and ethnic minority communities are concentrated in the larger cities, particularly in London where they represent about 30% of the population, yet their perceptions, experiences and thoughts about the British countryside and rural services are rarely considered.
Nearly 8 per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority, and yet they make up only 1 per cent of the visitors to National Parks
Negative Perceptions and External Influences
One of the biggest problems for ethnic minorities' visiting the countryside and other natural open spaces is that there are not many other ethnic people there; this can encourage a sense of alienation.
The city has to appear as an innovative exciting, creative and safe place to live, play and consume, from this a prejudice, especially if people in the countryside have had little contact with ethnic minorities and the only experience they have had of them is via the media.
Further perceptions of the English open spaces may be due to safety issues, cultural beliefs, going to be involved in getting dirty.
It has been recognises that the free time of black and minority ethnic groups is often devoted to 'intra-community' activities, family life, and 'personal development' activities such as further and higher education. From this view it may be assumed that ethnic groups may consider activities outside of these may be a waste of time as it may not benefit their development and opportunities for a good career and life.
Strategies
Ethnic groups are more likely to face exclusion than others because they believe they suffer from 'powerlessness' and 'inequality of opportunity'. As a result, insufficient attention has been paid to including the experiences and views of minority ethnic groups in rural research and policy-making and in shaping strategies for the delivery of services in rural areas.
A pro-active approach is required to encouraging the use of open spaces by local communities and to the involvement of local people in the development and management of the countryside and green spaces.
Many new strategies reach out to the 'youth' of the communities, BEN is dedicated to encourage the involvement of the youth demographic in ethnic groups.
Members of BEN believe it is important for black people to have a voice in Britain's environmental heritage and future, as these experiences as they really opened up a whole new world for them.
To engage more ethnic minority communities in the environment they need opportunities to see what is on offer. Providing targeted experiences and the chance to have an experience in the country is a good way of doing this.
In order to break down the stereotypes and barriers between ethnic groups and communities the Countryside Commission are using a 'bridge' in the urban fringe areas of the UK, as it offers the opportunity to merge the two conflicting developments and their communities
Non-departmental public body (NDPB) such as Natural England have introduced a main scheme: Action Research Projects (ARPs) this is a tool in place to help to increase the diversity of countryside visitors. There are four main projects to help reach that aim in selected parts of England:
Beyond the Boundary - this tests whether the barriers of confidence and lack of information by Black and Minority Ethnic communities can be overcome through supporting urban and rural communities to twin with one another.
By All Means -Testing whether a measurable increase in the level of access to Kent's countryside routes and sites can be achieved through working closely with disabled people and their representative organisations through all phases of planning, development and management.
Finding Common Ground - Testing whether engaging with women and their families in inner city Plymouth, and linking them with women in rural communities, increases their confidence and unlocks their ability to access the Devon countryside.
Conclusion
The key findings of this conference paper are that the main issues are the barriers that have been formed between the ethnic groups and the 'hosts' in the open spaces in Britain.
The attentions have not been to including the experiences and views of minority ethnic groups in rural research and policy-making to ensure all members of the community benefit from their surrounding this is to be done though shaping strategies.
The lack of information, effective interpretation, and appropriate activities contribute to feelings of alienation, and increased the boundaries as negative images of the countryside and seaside areas became a focused aspect.
The key to resolving these concerns was by using media, and focused strategies on the ethnic youth, would make it possible to overcome communication problems without necessarily reducing the natural qualities of the environment itself.
Offering activities to provide a positive experience of the countryside, such as escorted visits, led walks, mentoring schemes and personal contact, all help to increase participation.
In addition using the resource of the community these schemes may be able to disregard many racial stereotypes, as well as reducing the ethnic minorities' views of the countryside.
Reference
Brown, A., Johal, S., and Wong, J.L., (1996-7) BEN- Environmental Ethnic Youth Work, First Year Report
Morris, N., (2003) OPENspace: the research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments, Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Natural England (2008) Action Research Projects [Online] Available at: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/outdoorsforall/diversityreview/actionresearch/default.aspx [Accessed 16/04/10]