Visits to the Dales ‘worth their weight in gold’ to refugee community

September 19, 2024

YDMT’s People and the DALES project empowers people from underserved communities to spend time in the Dales and connect with nature. For the last 16 years we’ve been working with one of these groups, BIASAN, to support the refugee community in Bradford.

This summer, with the help of a YDMT grant and her learnings from previous experiences in the Dales, Mo from BIASAN was able to run her own residential experience.

Leading a residential in the Dales for the first time!

In May, Mussarat Rahman, or Mo, took a group of 17 people from the refugee community to Conistone Hostel near Kilnsey. It was the first time she had led a residential by herself.

“Residentials have previously been provided for us, this was the first time we did it by ourselves. There were a few big learning curves, but now I know how I want to run residentials,” Mo said.

Mo puts the people who access her project at the heart of everything she does and despite organising walks and putting on arts and crafts activities, she found that most people just wanted to relax in the beautiful surroundings, which is a stark contrast to city life.

“It’s great to organise activities, but a lot of people just wanted to do their own thing. It was so quiet, away from the noise and busy-ness of the city. So, some people just wanted to chill in this beautiful environment. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learnt: that it’s not all about the ‘doing’.”

The benefits of connecting with nature

Getting out of the city and into nature has been important to many people from the refugee community Mo works with as it reflects the experiences of people who come from rural areas.

“The Dales is very beautiful. A lot of people come from rural places where they would catch their own fish, grow their own veg and live closer to nature. It’s so important to be able to give people that connection and it has a massive impact on their wellbeing.

“In Bradford, it’s intense and noisy. There’s stuff going on everywhere and there’s no way to get away from everything. But in the Dales, you could hear a pin drop.”

For people from the refugee community, who have fled war or persecution, having access to space, beauty and nature is hugely beneficial.

“These connections and experiences are worth their weight in gold,” Mo said.

Rosie Russell-Cohen, Youth and Communities Officer, said: “Mo has worked with YDMT for 16 years and in that time has gone from bringing groups out with our support, to coming on our training weekends, to running her own day trips, to now, with the support of the YDMT grant, running her own residentials.

“Witnessing Mo grow, develop and bring her own creative spin to the events she runs is such an honour. The longevity of our work together is testament to the fact that our projects work.”

Diversity in the Dales

Through our People and the DALES project we’re helping to tackle the barriers that prevent people from the refugee community, and other underserved communities, to access and enjoy nature here in the Yorkshire Dales, and make everyone feel welcome.