As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we sat down with Travis, the founder of Inside Out Recruitment London CIC and a passionate advocate for inclusion in the outdoor sector.
In this Q&A, Travis shares what inspired him to get involved in our Diversity in the Outdoors programme, why representation in the outdoors is so important, and how his personal journey is helping to challenge stereotypes and create meaningful opportunities for future generations.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Why did you get involved in the Outdoor Diversity Programme, and why is this programme so important?
Hi, I’m Travis, founder of Inside Out Recruitment London CIC. I’ve worked as an outdoor instructor for the past six years.
I’ve been involved in youth work since I was 16, and it was through youth work that I got into the outdoors. As a young person, I took part in lots of residentials and adventure days, which had a big impact on me. That experience eventually led me to start Inside Out, after seeing how little diversity there was in the outdoor sector. With a shared goal of making the outdoors more accessible for young people from inner-city communities, we felt the London Youth’s Diversity in the Outdoors programme was a perfect fit.
The programme gives young people the chance to experience different areas of the outdoor industry and gain valuable experience working alongside instructors. It also offers the opportunity to earn relevant qualifications and supports their journey towards becoming freelancers or full-time instructors. Having access to this kind of opportunity and the support of the outdoor centre staff is incredibly valuable for those just starting out. It provides guidance and a space to ask questions, which can be difficult to find when trying to enter the industry alone, especially without existing qualifications.
How would you describe your journey into the outdoor industry? Why did you choose a career in the outdoors over other career routes?
My journey into the outdoors has been a freeing one. The sector has allowed me to travel across the UK to either work or complete training. I chose this career because it’s very practical. It’s a lot like youth work except you aren’t working with young people over a long duration of time, you only have a few days, so you have to make it count.
The goal is to get the young people to believe in themselves and encourage one another to break down barriers preventing them from completing activities. As a youth worker also, I prefer this path as you get to be a big part of people’s experiences within the outdoors, something that will be memorable for them.
How has your experience so far changed the way you see yourself and the outdoors?
After working at multiple outdoor centres, doing lots of training and meeting literally thousands of people, I can say that I’ve changed. Before I started in the outdoors, I was very corporate and structured in my approach to life. The outdoors was meant to be a seasonal post before getting back into the corporate lifestyle. Now, I feel the outdoors is a great opportunity for everyone to explore and enjoy themselves in. There is so much to do, and I think it has shaped me in how I go about life. Very open and free!
Why is it important for young people from all backgrounds and abilities to see themselves represented in outdoor spaces and roles like yours?
Young people are very impressionable and need role models to assist in their development. Seeing someone like them doing something that isn’t usually considered part of their culture or capabilities, can spark an interest. Once they have that spark it needs to be built upon. Especially when they attend an outdoor centre and see someone like them, their whole experience can change and it can engage them more because they can relate to the person. The more people we have who can be role models to others, the better the outdoors will be as the outdoors is for everyone.
What advice would you give to young people who might feel that the outdoors “isn’t for them”?
I would say give it a try. You don’t know unless you try. The idea of it might seem quite daunting and make you quite nervous, whether it’s going into mud, cold, wet weather, heights, or open water. Those are legitimate fears, and you have every right to doubt yourself in that. But if you give it a try, you might surprise yourself.
There have been many occasions when I’ve been instructing where young people are quite nervous before the session starts. Once you realise that you can do the activity itself, whether it’s climbing to the top of a tower or kayaking for an hour and a half up a lake or on the sea, it builds confidence within yourself. Once you know you can do it, you can always push yourself further.
Equally, do as much as you want. Nobody’s going to force you. The instructor shouldn’t force you to do something you don’t want to do. If you try it and realise it’s not for you, just stop. At least you gave it a try.
In the spirit of “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” the theme for this year’s Black History Month, what message would you like to share?
As a man from an Afro-Caribbean household growing up in South London, I think community is so important. Lean into your community because they understand what you’re going through. Especially now, in this moment, it’s a tough time to be growing up in England with all the things going on in the news.
Your neighbour probably understands you the most. I wouldn’t be where I am now without the community I had growing up. These people look out for you, and everyone should have that kind of support. During this Black History Month, I encourage you to lean on your community because they are and will support you in whatever you want to do.
