Going from Strength to Strength – Still Breaking Down Barriers

Happy New Year to you all !

Since the last article published in August 2022, There has been doors opening for the Bristol Steppin Sistas, attracting Sponsors & Partnerships .

So far we are in partnership with https://climategames.com/ who are one of our regular supporters, alongside BCfm Radio, Remote First Aid and Pre-Hospital Training Ltd , Age UK Bristol ,Cotswold Outdoor, Sport England, BBC Radio Bristol, ITV News, BBC Countryfile Live, Exmoor National Park, The Ramblers, Let’s Walk Bristol, NHS Professionals, UWE Bristol, Bristol24/7, Chasetrainingsolutions, University of Bristol, Sloways, Sustrans, Ujima Radio 98fm, Bristol City Council ,Chepstow Walkers are Welcome ,Wales Outdoors Group, YHA, Reparations Bristol, Bristol Film festival, Greece Film Festival, Cornwall Film Festival, 

The amount of support from the Media has been very high and attracted more women to come out walking with us. This for me is a good sign, because it proves the group is well needed and working well for others.

Film Making / Media

At present we have 3 documentaries in the making  

First One covers  – awareness of Glacoma in the West Indian community/ Walking in nature

Secondly We also have our film maker student from Leiden University, Netherlands studying an Ethnography(/Anthropology) Master’s – she is here in Bristol, for two months to make a documentary mainly in identity formation for people with a migration background, their intergenerational relations, their connection to the land they currently live in, and the history of the ‘right to roam’ movement in the UK. 

The 3rd is a short film based on 3 different stories from 3 individuals about the connection with childhood and nature – I am one of the characters in the film telling my true story.

All this will help build my portfolio for ITV West – More about this later in the year.

This is really a big step for the Bristol Steppin Sistas, I love keeping the positive vibes flowing and I am passionate about what I do.

Magazines – We have appeared in the October 2022 issue of the Countryfile magazine, I have stressed to Bauer Media asking the big question – Do you invite or give people of colour the opportunity to appear in the walking magazines, as its very rare, if not at all I can’t seem to see any  – Bauer media has come back, and will offer to add a publication to include more people of colour walking and enjoying the countryside 

The Big walk 

Starting on 1^st May 2023 I will be walking a dream – The Kennet & Avon Canal, Bristol to Reading, 94.6 miles I have been longing to do this route for a few years, So, I thought I would make it as part of a challenge and walk to support Reparations Bristol Youth Project – You can read about them here www.reparationsbristol.org.

I will supported by Climate Games who will be following me throughout the week at different intervals with a Virtual assistant, Registered Drone, Body cam, GPS tracker, also I will be filmed by a videographer and a photographer who will both meet me at the starting point. ITV West will promote the walk just before the day.

The fundraiser Part is 

Our main goal is to provide free educational youth projects for young people aged 11-16yrs of African and Caribbean descent who are at risk of exclusion from school and society. Reparations Bristol

My name is Sophie and I am the founder of a walking group in Bristol for black/Women of colour over 18 years of age – we are called Bristol Steppin Sistas

My goal is to support as many organisations in the community as possible. I have chosen Reparations because, I can see the really good work they are doing for Young People, and it would be a pleasure for me to try and raise some money to help with the outstanding projects that they make big efforts to put together.

The way I would like to contribute to this amazing organisation, is to take up a solo walking challenge – 100 miles from Bristol to Reading along the Kennet and Avon canal in May 2023. As a qualified walk leader, I understand the ups and downs of long distance walking, but saying that, I also have a passion and choose to solo walk under most circumstances .

My aim is to walk the whole 100 miles over a period of 5 days, stopping overnight at B&Bs along the way.

Please can you help me achieve this, the organisation ‘Reparations’ means so much to our Young People

You can donate here 

Crowdfunding to Give some Support to Reparations Bristol Youth Projects on JustGiving

Positives

I would say the positives are that as we carry on, the public are noticing us more and we feel welcomed in places where before we were reluctant to walk.

• The group is still growing, we are up to 1,462 members across 5 different social platforms.
• I have an award for special recognition – MTM awards 10^th Anniversary 2022.
• There is wonderful feedback from the Women in the group, most women have mentioned how the walking group has had a big effect on their lives.
• We have been invited to the Local farmers sunflower picking day with lunch – beautiful farm near Pensford.
• I have signed a ITV West contract as part of the Diversity & Inclusion Team 
• More Women have been put forward for the Outdoor First Aid Training 
• We have a full team of Marshals

The list goes on.

Health & Wellbeing

I have been keeping myself grounded in nature and spending quiet time alone to recharge my energy. This is my usual way to manage my wellbeing and preventing me from becoming overwhelmed. This is so important to me, sometimes I shut off to meditate and place a barrier between myself and others who I feel could be a distraction, that means not taking calls and sticking to my boundaries. I have mastered to ignore anything verbal that I feel will be a threat to my mental health. All these things are part of my self care.

The Founder – Sophia Brown 

How to find the group

www.bristolsteppinsistas.co.uk

FB Bristol stepping sistas