Ecofusion was inspired by the


‘Working with Difference’ programme, set up by the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity and Backbone. This involves a partnership of environmental organisations and minority ethnic community groups who have been working together over the past year to encourage greater diversity in Scotland’s outdoors. Black and minority ethnic communities are often under- represented in environmental and outdoor activities, and theWorking with Difference programme aims to address the barriers by supporting partnerships working between environmental and black and minority ethnic organisations. Monthly ‘getting to know you’


meetings and a ‘learning by doing’ approach led to visits to the outdoors for 200 people from black and minority ethnic communities and a number of ongoing projects. For instance, a visit to Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, hosted by Forestry Commission Scotland, was enjoyed by a group from the project for minority ethnic carers of older people and the Nepal Scotland Association. “This trail reminded us all as if we were walking in the Himalayas,” remarked one of the group. “You don’t feel lonely when nature is with you.” Recently, seven community groups


received funding from the Paths for All organisation to set up local health walk programmes, and a number of groups are planning the John Muir Award with Historic Scotland’s ranger service. Pammy Johal of Backbone was


delighted by the partnerships and projects that quickly grew out of the programme. “In setting upWorking with Difference, we discovered that environmental organisations and black and minority ethnic community groups found it difficult to make connections. A year later, the Ecofusion celebration event brought together everything that this programme set out to achieve!” “Many people felt ownership of


the event because they were involved in the planning process,” commented Adil Ibrahim of the Community Organisation for Race Equality, who organised a football tournament at the event. “Ecofusion was an excellent


32 The Nature of Scotland


5 5


The climbing wall was a big hit with the children.


6


There were opportunities to get up close to wildlife.


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