THE OUTDOORS IS FOR EVERYONE
Yet outdoor culture, the deep and passionate engagement with the natural environment, and access to rural landscapes remains elusive to many people from marginalised communities.
THE OUTSIDERS PROJECT is an independent platform through which we promote inclusion and diversity within the culture and community of the Outdoors.
It encompasses editorial storytelling and partnerships, brand insights, lobbying of NGBs and governments, media ownership, thought leadership, event activations and issue representation.
We offer a credible voice for brands and organisations who want to make change. Pushing positive reflections of people of colour, we aim to exposed and break barriers to open spaces to the whole community by addressing race, ethnicity and ability, but also wider disparities that prevent people from enjoying the natural world.
The Outsiders Project Beyond Representation Report includes the views of community leaders and leading figures from Patagonia, TNF, Adidas, Arc'teryx and Greenpeace, as well as giving practical steps on how brands can be committed to Anti-Racism.
THE PLATFORM
Outdoor culture – with its action sports, trail runs, and great country hikes – has long been dominated by the white upper-middle classes. Our editorial partnership with Huck wants to change that.
Huck has been working for years to promote diversity in the culture and community of the Outdoors. By telling stories through a lens unclouded with careworn assumptions and prejudices, we aim to promote the outdoors as a space for all. In the opening dispatch, THE OUTSIDERS PROJECT co-founder Phil Young tells of his experience as a Black man in this all-too white world.
A word from our founder.
Covid19 and the BLM movement has created a shift in outdoor culture that no one could have predicted. Collectively they acted as the trigger that people of colour needed to reclaim the joy of outdoor spaces which had historically been denied to them. The Outsiders Project was there from the start, a platform that TCO launched to champion the community groups and individuals that are leading the conversation and to work with the brands that are helping to support them on their journey. We are giving a voice to those that are building a new outdoors and shaping a future where everyone is welcome.
Phil Young - Founder of the The Outsiders Project
BRAND COLLABORATIONS
adidas TERREX
The trope of the Black person in the English Landscape doesn’t exist. A collective of trail runners, mountain bikers, climbers, and hikers are collaborating with adidas Terrex to address the issue.
The Outsiders Project is supporting adidas in their mission to support diversity in the outdoors. As part of this campaign our community fund is enabling groups as well as promoting their voice on The Outsiders Project, Huck and adidas channels.
Patagonia: Outsiders Summit
Community develops culture but stimulating culture growth takes planning and authenticity. Connecting groups with similar ambitions in a space where they can be themselves is just one step towards making a more equitable outdoors. Swimmers, runners, hikers, climbers and MTB riders were brought together in order to share ideas and ignite a movement.
Finisterre: New Lenses on the Landscape
Taking outdoor leaders to the south coast of Wales we explore cliffs, dunes and sea scapes while discussing the challenges faced by marginalised groups in the UK. These new lenses on the outdoor help to frame the conversation to the border outdoor community.
Merrell 1TRL
The climber welcoming LGBTQ+ people to the wall.
Karl Ludvik is a strong and talented gay climber. Throughout his youth contest career, he’s sought to challenge the narrative that only straight men get to be tough. And now, he wants to help others do the same by tackling the underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ people in climbing.
adidas TERREX x Kendal Mountain Festival
THE OUTSIDERS PROJECT is supporting adidas Outdoors in their strategy to bring more diversity into their marketing, and find ways to support grass root groups who are making change.
To launch this partnership, we produced a panel discussion with adidas at the Kendal Mountain Festival ‘New Voices - An Exploration into Inclusivity & Diversity in ‘Outdoor’.
Thanks to our host Keme Nzerem and panelists, Phil Young, founder of the Outsiders Project, Richard Leafe, Chief Exec at the Lake District National Park, Victoria Gosling OBE, Carmen Mcilveen, founder of Project One Climbing, and Jaimus Tailor, Designer and founder of Greater Goods.
Huck x Squarespace
Meet the running community reclaiming the great outdoors.
People of colour get little representation in outdoor culture – but Black Trail Runners aims to change that. In the final installment of Future Proof, produced in partnership with Squarespace, the group explains how they’re working to transform it for the better.