Make Connection to Nature and Learning Accessible

Hi, our names are Sarri, Declan, Roz and Andy,

Thank you for giving your time and care to look at this. We hope you watch the videos, which will help you understand and get connected to the campaign.

Why this crowdfunder...

Equitable access to nature connection:

In the UK, there is unequal access to rural nature and urban green spaces which has huge knock-on effects on the physical and mental health of communities. For example:

We know that justice and inclusion really matter to so many, and this is an opportunity to have a direct impact on this inequality.

Safer spaces for exploring power:

As well as aiming to make nature connection more equitable, this course creates a safer space to explore the ‘power over’ systems that underpin everything in our society and how they are reproduced inside us all and in our relationships and communities. We want to fully fund places for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) so that people with lived experience of systemic racism can be together on this course, and in acknowledgment of the particular contribution their experiences may make to the whole group, and in acknowledgment of the impacts of historic, global and systemic racialisation.

Course participant 2022 - “It was healing to be welcomed in my truths and have that feedback so respected and integrated.”

How you can contribute...

Your donation will support fully funded places for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in acknowledgment of the impact of historic, global and systemic racialisation to attend the Transforming Inclusion course - a seven-day residential in a beautiful natural setting in September 2023, during which we’ll be camping, living in community, eating outdoors and listening to the world around us.

Here is what People of Colour who attended this course in 2022 said about the course…

Connecting people with themselves, community and the natural world can have profound physical, emotional, mental and societal benefits. However, there are systems in place that allow some people easier access to this than others. We are committed to changing those systems and creating greater equity and inclusion so that nature connection is not predominantly a white privilege.

We focus on creating greater equity and inclusion in the culture, structure, design and types of support we offer in our programmes, and access to it in the first place. We are inviting a significant number of People of Colour to attend - with the intention that the space feels more equitable and inclusive and thus safer - and support People of Colour with any camping needs they might have (e.g. with high quality tents and warm sleeping bags).

Where your money goes…

Your compassion, your readiness to share what you can today, will REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Within the next 2 months we need to know how many fully funded places for People of Colour we can offer. Without knowing this, we won’t know if it will feel safe enough to any People of Colour to come or if the course is even viable. We’ve run the course now for 2 years, and in order to make it safe for People of Colour, have offered free places without any funding behind us. Of course, this has meant we had much less income to cover our costs as well as support us to continue this work in the world. We did this because we were clear we needed to test and develop this course before asking for funding. We have had such an incredible response to this course, from People of Colour and people racialised as white, who feel passionately about this being open to everyone, that we are in genuine demand for more! However, without some funding behind us, it won't be safe enough for only one or two People of Colour to receive free spaces, and it won't be sustainable for us to continue offering this work….

…So we need you! This is your moment to be part of making Transforming Inclusion happen!

Course participant 2022 - “Interweaving play, movement, community/ village, nature to support systemic transformation.”

Course participant 2022 - “Care in delivery of facilitation and an unimaginable level of support.”

We’re aiming to raise £10,000, so we feel secure that we can offer 10 fully funded places (half the total places) for People of Colour. Please note we also provide bursary places for other marginalised groups, which are funded through other means and are not part of this crowd funder.

Any amount you can afford makes a difference, from £1 to £1000!!

So that you know just how valuable your contribution is…

Course participant 2022 - “An embodied enquiry into systems of power. A facing into the discomfort of the system through the experience of living in a village.”

For more on the course, please see here: https://www.changeinnature.org/transforming-inclusion-2023

Thank you!!