WALK SKILLS
We want to diversify the people we normally hear talking about the outdoors, celebrate their stories, shine a light on their insights, and create a place for discussion, inclusion and practical advice. Welcome to Finding Our Way, our new podcast to champion walkers, climbers and mountaineers from diverse backgrounds. Here we chat to one of the guests from Season One, Rehna Yaseen.
A
n outdoor youth and community worker based in Greater Manchester, Rehna discovered a passion for outdoor activities in her teens through the Lindley Educational Trust. She now helps other young people find their own passion for the ‘great outdoors’ as the leader of the Ashton Youth Club.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE HILLS?
Growing up, our version of the outdoors was just playing out till the streetlights came on. Then I knew it was time to come in because it was dinner time and I was going to get in trouble if I didn't get in. And that was it. I didn't know that people went hill walking, climbing or canoeing. I didn't know things like crags
and climbing walls existed. My first ever hill walk was absolutely shocking! My boots didn't fit, I got blisters, didn't know if I was hot or cold. I just remember sheer frustration, thinking, 'my Pakistani body isn't made to climb hills. That's why I can't see anyone else like me around here! Who else would do this?!'. But after that experience something clicked in my head and my heart.
SO HOW DO YOU GET YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THESE ACTIVITIES?
The wider community is at the heart of what we do at Ashton Youth Club. We don't just work with young people, we work with their families. If I don't know the families, if I don't know parents and siblings, then it won’t work. Parents come to me speaking Urdu saying, 'Rehna, where's my daughter going? I'm nervous, I'm worried.' And I speak back to them in the mother tongue and explain, 'We're going to the Peak District, we're going climbing, she's going to have an amazing time’ and show them pictures. It builds relationships and rapport. It has to come through the community. If you can see
58 | CLIMB. WALK. JOIN.
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