Black Girls Hike – with Rhiane Fatinikun

On this episode of Build Better Brands, Danielle Clarke is joined by Rhiane Fatinikun, founder of Black Girls Hike, to talk about how things have been going and where Black Girls Hike is going to go in the future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The idea behind Black Girls Hike was just me wanting to create a space because I wanted to do something for my wellbeing, like taking up a new hobby. But I'd always been involved in community. Exploration into the countryside has never been something that I've done, I always wanted to live in a city, but as I've got older I've started appreciating the countryside more.
• I dropped out of uni three times because I didn't really enjoy it and I worked in the civil service and doing volunteering part time so I could get into community work, but I was always really conscious that I wasn't doing enough and I wasn't getting to where I wanted to be in life fast enough and I wasn't reaching certain milestones of ages. That was one of the reasons I started Black Girls Hike, I wanted to do something where I felt like I was using my time wisely for my wellbeing and not thinking about doing anything else.
• It wasn't supposed to be a brand, it was just the name of the group and it became a brand by itself. At the end of the first year we decided to do Snowdon, and somebody said it'd be a really nice idea to make some medals made, but we didn't have a logo so I got one designed on Fiverr just for those medals. But it became the logo that everyone associates with us and it's just so basic! We've needed to update it and our website for ages but it's been me running it on my own while working full time. We tried a rebrand, but I found the calls really difficult because you don't know what you don't know and the stuff they were coming back with wasn't great and I wonder if that was down to me being bad at explaining or them not understanding what I wanted.
• The outdoors is never marketed to black people, as though they would never go outdoors. That's obviously not the reason, there's loads of different reasons that we've been excluded from the outdoors and it's all ways that systemic racism manifests and creates ‘invisible barriers'. I want us to challenge stereotypes of who the outdoors is actually for because the outdoors is for everybody. I want to make it more accessible, more inclusive, create an environment where our community can really thrive and develop and experience all the benefits od the outdoors that we've historically been excluded from.

BEST MOMENTS

‘A CIC is a Community Interest Company, so it's a non-profit, everything we make goes back into the organisation to subsidise other activities and help reach more people.'

‘It was just supposed to be a really small social group and an opportunity for me to get out explore and meet new people, but because it was on Instagram it grew and got so much more demand. I was forced to grow it, it wasn't the initial plan!'

‘Wellbeing's the most important thing. We need to be able to pour into ourselves. So many people are pouring from an empty cup and running on empty because we're in a society that's all about productivity and you always feel like you have to be doing something.'

‘The UK is so beautiful. When I was younger all I wanted to do was go abroad but now I'm like: “Let's go to Scotland on holiday!”'

ABOUT THE GUEST

After being inspired by a train journey through the Peak District, Rhiane founded Black Girls Hike to challenge stereotypes and the lack of representation in the outdoors. With no hiking experience herself, she put a call out on social media and Black Girls Hike was born. Since then, they've gone from strength to strength, launching groups nationwide running regular group hikes and outdoor activity days.

Audiobook by Etaf Rum: A Woman Is No Man: https://amzn.to/3M2Uybv 

Website: https://www.bghuk.com/ 

Instagram: @rhianesworld and @bgh_uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bghmcr/ 

ABOUT THE HOST

Danielle Clarke is a Brand and Marketing Consultant, University Lecturer and Business Owner.

Since 2006 Danielle has provided brand design and marketing support for clients including Škoda, Gtech, UK Biocentre, UK Mail and GIRLvsCANCER Danielle is committed to helping brands that want to have a positive impact on people's lives. She spends her time consulting and working with business owners to help them attract and retain their best customers.

Insta - @danielleclarkecreative | [https://www.instagram.com/danielleclarkecreative/]

LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-clarke-creative/]

Twitter - @D4nielleCl4rke |  [https://twitter.com/D4nielleCl4rke]

Email - [email protected] 

Website: www.danielleclarkecreative.com 

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