Mosaic is the name of a three-year national project that will engage ethnic minority communities with the National Parks.
Mosaic was launched today (Wednesday 29th July) in the Yorkshire Dales National Park by Ben Fogle who, coincidentally, is a BMC member. Also in attendance was the Government Minister responsible for National Parks Huw Irranca-Davies MP, and Community Champion Nuujahan Ali Arobi.
Ben Fogle, President of the Campaign for National Parks was joined by representatives from all over the country to celebrate the start of Mosaic.
Mosaic will develop Community Champions for National Parks within black and ethnic minority groups in 20 cities across England. It will provide training to enable local Champions to promote the National Parks in their communities, organise visits to National Parks and establish cultural events and other activities to stimulate an interest in the natural environment.
The project – which is funded by Natural England through Access to Nature as a part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme – will provide Community Champions with a range of new skills including leading walks, map reading, fundraising, working with the media and campaigning. This will help to ensure that the knowledge and experiences that they gain will continue to be shared once the project has ended.
CNP’s President Ben Fogle welcomes the Mosaic project:
“Going to the countryside inspired me when I was a child, and led me to pursue the adventures I enjoy now as an adult. Mosaic is a fantastic project that works to make sure that everyone has that opportunity to experience and be amazed by the most spectacular landscapes in our country."
Huw Irranca-Davies, Natural Environment Minister, said:
“The work being done by the Campaign for National Parks and community groups through Mosaic is not only breaking down barriers, but is also forging lasting links so that more people from minority communities and under-represented groups are attracted to our National Parks and can enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world.
Nurjahan Ali Arobi, a member of the Bradford community, spoke of her personal experience as a Mosaic Community Champion:
“Mosaic gives me the skills and confidence to help my community to access the National Park. Before we would not have been aware of what was available there in terms of facilities, let alone the sheer natural beauty and that it was a place for us all to enjoy.”
Nick Colton attended the event for the BMC and said:
"The Community Champions supported by Mosaic could help the work of the BMC Equity Steering Group as it seeks to identify, and work towards removing, barriers to participation which ethnic minority groups might face"
Kabeer Bostan, Mosaic Project Officer, and member of the BMC's Equity Steering Group, recently gave this radio interview (you will need real audio to be able to listen to it).
This year is the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act of Parliament which enabled the creation of the National Parks for public benefit and the enjoyment of all. Sixty years after the Act was passed, CNP wants to ensure that the National Parks remain relevant to all people in contemporary 21st century Britain.
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