How did you get started in your passion for nature?
In 2020 I had a lifechanging experience in the Peruvian Amazon as part of a British Explorer Society expedition, and I could feel a difference in myself, though I carried on with youth work, e.g., football coaching. I spoke at the Adventure Mind conference, when I was working with the British Explorer Society to get more people from different communities to go on expeditions. I realised that the scene was white middle class, I didn’t look like people that were being targeted to go on these adventures, there was not enough representation. So I thought I could use my experience and give back to my community and start a YouTube channel as the best way to reach young people. I spoke to a filmmaker and director and came up with an online series from September last year in my quest to get inner city people to connect with the natural world. I also facilitate workshops, do stuff in the community, speak about adventure and my story, it’s essentially about giving back to the community.
Why do you want to get young people into nature?
Nature is a source for healing and nourishment for our lives, we should all have the opportunity to live that life in abundance. There is factual evidence that it helps with mental health. A lot of people from my communities have trauma that they carry and I believe nature is a true source of healing – everyone should have the opportunity to go outdoors and it’s free. There are a lot of barriers to getting outside but nature is also within us.