Opening Up the Outdoors (OUTO) and Social Impact have teamed up to issue a call for activists in the DACH region (German speaking countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland) to help make nature more accessible for people of colour. Together, the two organisations are recruiting a cohort of ‘OUTO Changemakers’ who have ideas for projects that will address a lack of diversity in the outdoors in the country, and tackle cultural and social barriers, including discrimination and racism. OUTO will support the new changemakers with a focused programme of support from outdoor industry and social business experts, designed to take an initiative from the concept stage through to launch and beyond

Founded in 2022, Opening Up the Outdoors is part of the wider It’s Great Out There Coalition, a non-profit organisation that leads the #itsgreatoutthere campaign, promoting outdoor participation to the general public across Europe, and focusing on engaging with new and diverse groups. OUTO began its work in the UK, backed by some of the biggest outdoor businesses in the world. The first phase of the OUTO Changemaker programme played a key role in launching a wide variety of outdoor enterprises in the UK. Led by people of colour, these have succeeded in introducing thousands of new citizens to outdoor activities. Founded in Germany 30 years ago, Social Impact develops infrastructure and projects to solve social challenges, disseminating expertise and building strong networks. As a driver of systemic change, the organisation creates innovations for a fairer and more sustainable society in the future. The agency works with strong national and international partners to develop innovative products and services in the areas of social and inclusive entrepreneurship, education, the social economy and rural areas.

OUTO and Social Impact are now inviting people of colour in DACH countries to apply to join the 2024 OUTO Changemakers programme. For successful applicants, participation will be free of charge, and, along with practical support and a wide communications reach, will also provide them with valuable connections and contacts in the outdoor sector, including at the companies that actively support OUTO and its projects.

Through a fourteen-week schedule of activities, OUTO Changemakers in DACH will attend specialist masterclasses, and benefit from peer mentoring, business coaching and skilled consulting, joining other entrepreneurs and leaders from diverse sectors. The programme will be co-designed with the changemakers and tailored to their individual needs. Afterwards, participants will have the opportunity to apply for development grants to invest directly into their own organisations.

The OUTO Changemakers programme has already made a big impact in the UK. It has supported some inspirational aspiring entrepreneurs and broken down the systemic barriers that have discouraged or prevented people of colour from playing a full role in the outdoor industry. The model works and we’re really excited about launching it in Germany, where a lot of those barriers are still firmly in place. In many areas of social life in the country and certainly in outdoor spaces, people of colour continue to be massively under-represented, and face discrimination and racism. Financial hurdles, poor levels of accessibility and infrastructure, as well as language barriers and safety concerns, often mean that hiking, biking, camping and other activities are predominantly white. For anyone else, there is often a lack of role models and low awareness of the benefits of getting active in nature. These challenges make it harder to feel welcome and safe, and this is precisely what we are tackling with Opening Up the Outdoors, supported by leading outdoor brands and organisations. Our OUTO Changemakers programme is a vital part of that work and we encourage any person of colour who has an idea that they would like to develop, to come forward and apply to join us.

Margo De Lange, Secretary General at It’s Great Out There Coalition

In recent years, it has become abundantly clear how essential spending time outdoors is for our mental and physical well-being. However, for many People of Colour from the DACH countries, accessing nature is not as easy or welcoming as it should be.

Elisabeth Sinner, Trainer and Co-Head of Programmes at Social Impact

Sinner points out that various barriers prevent People of Colour from fully enjoying outdoor spaces.

Whether it’s being made to feel like they don’t belong, facing hostility and discrimination from others, or lacking the confidence or networks to try something new, these obstacles are significant.

Anyone leading an outdoor startup, organisation, club or community in Germany that has the goal of promoting and support diversity in the outdoor sector, can apply to join the OUTO Changemakers programme.