12:01, 22 October 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
In cities across the UK, the presence of Black British communities in natural spaces is often underrepresented.
But one green and growing organisation is working to change that. Youth the Gap, a multi-award-winning educational consultancy founded in early 2024 by Kaia Allen-Bevan, is challenging both educational inequity and our disconnection from the natural world, particularly among racialised communities.
“Youth the Gap was created to bridge divides,” Kaia, Founder and Director of Youth the Gap said to Smiley News.
“We want to reconnect communities with nature in a way that is intentional, empowering and rooted in ancestry. It’s about decolonising how we relate to the land.”
Youth the Gap runs workshops, training and audit plans with schools, but their work extends far beyond classroom walls. One of their key missions is to reframe the relationship between Black Britons and the outdoors, challenging historic barriers and creating new opportunities for meaningful connection.
Smiley News spoke with Kaia at The Social Society and Friends Festival 2025, where she hosted a creative workshop titled ‘ Roots Before Empire’ that explored themes of identity, heritage and belonging.
“There’s a common myth that Black people are not ‘outdoorsy’, but this ignores centuries of deep ecological knowledge,” explains Kaia. “Our connection to the land was never lost. It was interrupted.”
As part of their approach, Youth the Gap collaborates with like-minded organisations such as Black Girls Hike, and actively encourages young people to lead their own outdoor experiences.
“If we want young people to care about the climate, they have to feel connected to it first,” Kaia says. “That starts by asking them what they want, what feels good to them – not just parachuting them into something that doesn’t resonate.”
Beyond environmental justice, there is a clear wellbeing element. Kaia shares that walking her dog is one of their favourite ways to reconnect with the outdoors. “It grounds me,” they say. “It’s a reminder that life exists beyond screens. Nature helps us breathe differently.”
But access remains a major barrier. Public funding for youth clubs has decreased by 77% since 2010, and financial or geographic limitations often make outdoor experiences inaccessible. Gentrification, safety concerns and cultural exclusion also play a role.
To counter these challenges, Youth the Gap focuses on intentional, low-cost ways for people to connect with nature.
“It doesn’t have to be a big hiking trip,” Kaia says. “It could be a walk in your local park with friends. What matters is consistency, intention and community.”
The organisation is also committed to educational transformation. By consulting with schools and offering tailored support, they are helping institutions embed inclusion and sustainability into their everyday practices, highlighting that education does not only exist in a curriculum,
“Education should not be punitive or out of reach,” Kaia explains. “We believe in care-centred learning that addresses the systemic barriers schools and students face.”
She continues: “We want to destigmatise lower-graded schools. Often, they’re not failing, they’re being failed by lack of funding, governance and recognition.”
Now officially registered as a company and growing fast, Youth the Gap continues to host events, provide strategic consultancy and open new avenues for collaboration.
“We’re still a young organisation, but the momentum is real,” Kaia says. “We’re building something joyful, rooted and sustainable.”
Whether through a simple walk, a school partnership or a full-scale event, Youth the Gap is proving that reconnecting with nature isn’t just good for the planet, it’s healing for communities too.
To learn more, attend an event, or collaborate, visit youththegap.uk.
At Smiley Movement, we elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this post.
Youngwilders. A UK youth‑led charity accelerating nature‑recovery across Britain by engaging young people (aged 18‑30) in hands‑on rewilding, habitat creation and outdoor leadership. Find out more.
Black Girls Hike UK. Founded to create safe and empowering outdoor spaces for Black women, this organisation offers guided hikes, wellbeing retreats and training to reconnect racialised communities with nature. Learn more.
Roots & Shoots. Based in South London, this environmental charity offers vocational training and community gardening projects, helping young people from multicultural backgrounds to engage with nature, build confidence and gain skills. Explore their work.
This article aligns with the SDG Reduced Inequalities, Life on Land.
