When nature and people come together, it has the power to change lives. Life Outdoors is the DNA of Blacks, bringing you the powerful stories of inspirational people who advocate time spent in nature.
Our DNA
We’re inspiring a Life Outdoors by providing the best representation of the authentic and amazing outdoor community we all belong to. We’ll explore transformative accounts of people who have changed perseverance to positivity, adversity to adventure, differences to diversity, and resilience to representation within the outdoors.
We Go Outside Too is defined by their power to create positive change. The group's founder, Marlon Patrice, is making the countryside accessible, bringing the authenticity of nature to the Black Community by aligning mental and physical well-being therapy with outdoor activities.
“My connection to nature developed on a deeper level. I started to feel empowered and able to face my trauma and focus on future goals, which would also benefit the wider Black Community”.
We Go Outside Too
Following the tragic death of his son in 2020, due to knife crime, and the onset of the COVID pandemic, Marlon was compelled to create ‘We Go Outside Too’. This active group is challenging the barriers to nature and demystifying the outdoors by empowering the inner city Black Community to experience its physical, mental and spiritual benefits. Using his own experience of the healing power of nature, Marlon has created a safe space for anyone to access the outdoors.
According to Public Health England, “The most economically deprived areas often have less available public greenspace, meaning people in those communities have fewer opportunities to reap the benefits”. Action taken by We Go Outside Too and others is driving positive change by combating the stigmatisation of the outdoors, calling for greater representation, and improving access to green spaces. But more must be done. Explore the story of Marlon and We Go Outside Too to understand the impact they are making.
The Future
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” William Shakespeare
Since 1863, Blacks has been championing the benefits of ‘The Great Outdoors’. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that unrestricted access to green spaces is essential to life. Nature gives us so much physically, mentally and spiritually. Therefore, we must all focus on the importance of our green planet and what we need to do to protect it for future generations. Ultimately it is our responsibility to sustain Life Outdoors in all forms for humanity and our planet.
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