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Communicating withunderrepresented communities

Eszter Ballo

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“The goal of an inclusive society is a journey and not a destination.”

Valerie Fletcher – Adaptive Environments, USA

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Handicapped situation

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Underrepresented communities

• People with a disability

• People from minority ethnic communities

• People living within areas of disadvantage

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The report

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Methodology

Focus Groups

• NTSN– Greater Shankill

Partnership– LORAG– Killeter & District

Development Trust– ROSA

• People with disabilities– RNIB– RNID– MENCAP– Face Inclusion Matters

• Minority Ethnic Communities– Polish Association– Craigavon Intercultural

Programme – Chinese Welfare

Association– Multi-Cultural Group

Dungiven

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Methodology

Postal Questionnaire

• 201 Distributed

– Outdoor Activity Providers (134)– Outdoor Education Centres (9) – EHS Country Parks (6) – Other Landowners and Government Agencies (11)– Rural/Urban Parks (24) – Governing bodies of sport (17).

• 69 Responses – 34.3%

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Results

Barriers for Underrepresented Groups

• Transport

• Attitudes

• Language

• Information

• Awareness

• Dependence

• Time/motivation

• Poorly maintained paths

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Results

Barriers for Providers• No perceived demand

• Lack of financial resources

• Lack of human resources

• Lack of appropriately trained staff

• No strategic plan

• Lack of appropriate facilities

• Lack of awareness of needs & abilities

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“The focus is on exploring the possibilities and not getting too hung up on what all the

barriers are but looking at what we can do to bring about positive change.”

Jane Stoneham – Sensory Trust

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Recommendations

• Raising awareness– on many levels; eg benefits of CR to health both physical

and mental

• Information and marketing– accessible information for all

• Leadership– community; organisational; CR providers;– making links

• Facilities– Well maintained and accessible for all

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Recommendations

• Training and capacity building– Leadership; awareness; legislative; policy development

• Transport– Accessible and regular with appropriately trained staff

• Policy development & implementation– A co-ordinated approach by policy makers to assist

providers meet the needs of underrepresented groups

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“We need to go beyond the technicalities of maximising access and think more about the spirit of what access means. Our ambition

should be to maximise the chance for everybody to have the greatest value and richest experiences from those pieces of

land – or activities we have to offer.”

Dr Tony Kendle – The Eden Project

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Information & Marketing

• The Access Chain – Sensory Trust

– Decision to visit

– Journey and arrival

– On-site experience

– Return home

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Information & Marketing

Universal / Inclusive Design

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“And what you as service providers can do is reduce handicapping situations. You can

make those differences and I think the key to that is talking to people. You can make

changes.”

Phil Chambers – Countryside Equality Marketing