New Perspectives Award
Our New Perspectives Award as part of our annual National Park Protector Awards celebrates the people, projects or initiatives that champion and inspire diversity and inclusion in National Parks.
Social justice and our mission for inclusive National Parks
National Parks must truly be for everyone, with equity in who visits and governs these landscapes: find out more about our work to secure changes in policy, our projects and our own equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) journey to progress this mission.
Our organisation was born from a social movement. We have radical roots in protest, anti-oppression and activism, which, 75 years ago, resulted in our first campaign success: the founding of National Parks in England and Wales.
The vision then was a simple one: National Parks as places where every citizen, no matter their background, could immerse themselves in the wonders of nature and spectacular landscapes. Even though society has changed so much, this vision still resonates today.
Launched last year, our strategy purposely sets out our intentions to build on these radical roots, centre social and environmental justice in our work, and campaign to ensure National Parks are representative and relevant to the nation today. Our strategy has three goals: better, equal and more National Parks, and we are explicit that securing reforms to address the inequalities in who visits, lives in and governs National Parks is a central plank of our ongoing and future work programme.
With National Parks at the heart of everything we do, we are here to unite, inspire and empower everyone to take action.
We are looking for two new trustees who share our passion for the work we do and who can help us ensure that National Parks are representative, inclusive and relevant to the nation today.
Internally, Campaign for National Parks is on our own EDI journey, a process of learning and (un)learning, listening with empathy and challenging ourselves. We know social justice and EDI Diversity, equity and inclusion is a vital part of how we work and we know we can and must always do more to embed this into everything we do. We are courageous in our ambition, and intentional in progressing this agenda in our small charity. We have a way to go, and work is underway to:
Our New Perspectives Award as part of our annual National Park Protector Awards celebrates the people, projects or initiatives that champion and inspire diversity and inclusion in National Parks.
We offer grants to young people who want to develop their communication and storytelling skills and share their stories of National Parks. Check out their stories.
This special edition of Viewpoint is made up entirely of contributions from young people. Thank you to lottery players for making this issue possible.
Our Future Leaders Course is part of our New Perspectives project. This is for young people who want to make a difference – for National Parks, landscapes, nature and people. The course is varied and includes a module on social justice
Our Mosaic projects found ways to open National Parks to those who’ve never experienced them before and connected hundreds of people with the countryside.
As part of our 2021-2023 New Perspectives storytelling grants, Kwesia a.k.a. City Girl in Nature; created a film about a group of first-time visitors experiencing the South Downs National Park.
Meet our National Park Ambassadors and learn how to get involved.
Dewan Choudhury reflects on why it’s so important for everyone to experience nature and how his passion drives his work.
In his Viewpoint piece Mohammed Dhalech explores the challenges in the sector and his hopes for the future.
Sameed is the founder of Summit Special, who are known as the BAME Mountain Leaders. Learn more about the awards.
Portrait of the South Downs National Park, a film and photographic series created by Saira Niazi. Saira's project explores hidden gems and unearths the stories that surround them.
The Wanderlust Women Tour, a film created by Amira Patel, documented her experiences as well as those of her tour attendees, digging into what barriers are restricting Muslim women and other people from ethnic backgrounds from visiting National Parks.