Sharing insights from The Outdoor Connection workshop sessions - Part 2
This article is part 2 of a 2 part series sharing resources following on from The Outdoor Connection. Bringing you insight and expertise from some of the incredible industry professionals that joined us.
The Outdoor Connection, an event run in partnership with All the Elements and the YHA - Outdoor Citizens, was created to provide people running and developing groups the support they need to build their impact and grow. Specifically for those creating change on diversity in the UK outdoors, across all diversity areas and outdoor activities.
The event took place in September 2022, bringing together change makers to share resources, network, explore funding opportunities and attend training sessions.
This article is part of the resources following on from the event sharing advice from two of the incredible speakers who joined us: Marie Cartwright and Rima Patel. Exploring what their sessions were about and their key takeaway advice for others. You can find part 1 with Hetty Key and Frankie Dewar here.
Image Credit Hannah Abdel-Hadi
Sharing insights from The Outdoor Connection workshop sessions - 'How to Get the Money' with Marie Cartwright.
Marie can you tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do?
I'm the Development & Partnerships Manager at Sporting Equals. My role is to create new relationships for Sporting Equals and explore ways in which organisations and us can work together.
Sporting Equals promotes diversity in sport and physical activity. The organisation aims to achieve healthier and fairer communities. Healthier, by increasing participation and engagement in physical activity via projects. Fairer, by giving ethnically diverse people a voice and a platform, but also through campaigns and advocacy to achieve fairer ethnic representation in leadership roles, at board level and within staff teams.
What was your session about at The Outdoor Connection?
My session topic was 'How to Get the Money' and it was all about how to structure a funding bid in order to maximise chances of successfully getting funding.
What would you say are the 3 main takeaways from your session?
There are three main things you’ll want to keep in mind and think about when you are applying for funding:
1. Evidence your case by articulating the details of why do you need funding.
2. Provide evidence of the impact that your initiative will have, or at least the foresight.
3. Provide evidence of how your project can positively affect the wider community.
You can find out more about Sporting Equals and Marie’s work on Instagram @sportingequals and Linkedin @SportingEquals & @MarieCartwright
Image Credit Hannah Abdel-Hadi
Sharing insights from The Outdoor Connection workshop sessions - ‘Staying on Purpose’ with Rima Patel.
Rima can you tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do?
I'm currently a Learning Design Consultant at PwC, focused on ESG and sustainability training programme design and development.
Previous to this I co-founded Impactful, an impact and innovation consultancy which works with businesses, third sector and public sector organisations to understand their purpose and maximise their positive social and environmental impact.
What was your session about at The Outdoor Connection?
Staying on Purpose was a session on understanding what purpose/vision/mission/values means both at a high level and for each community and organisation individually.
Image Credit Hannah Abdel-Hadi
We explored our collective definitions, looked at examples from the All The Elements network and then reflected on these for our own organisations and the challenges that crop up when trying to embed and actualise our purpose on a day to day basis.
What would you say are the 3 main takeaways from your session?
1. Setting your purpose/vision/mission/values takes time, works best if you include those affected in the process and is a continual and evolving process.
2. There will always be a gap between the ideal, long term future ambition of where you are trying to get to and where you are now, that's ok. Be realistic, understand your current constraints and work out what success/progress looks like for you.
3. Deal with tension, conflict and challenges early and fairly even if it's difficult/uncomfortable. These things can drain energy and distract from the mission and ultimately get in the way of your overall purpose.
You can find out more about Rima’s work on Twitter @letapamir and Linkedin @Rima Patel
Illustration by Rebecca Osborne
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