Social Enterprise Spotlight – Mhor Outdoor
Posted: 09 March 2021, in News
Our newest Social Enterprise Spotlight is Rachel May and Mhor Outdoor. Mhor Outdoor delivers empowering hikes to break down barriers to the outdoors in Scotland. Read and share their Q&A interview below and listen to Rachel talk about her social enterprise and impact in the video below.
Get in contact with Rachel on rachel@mhoroutdoor.com.
What’s your social and/or environmental mission?
Mhor Outdoor aims to challenge inequality and promote outdoor lifestyles in Scotland through leading group hikes in the local hills.
How do you do it?
Organisations or businesses get in touch and we will organise a local hike for their group or team. Hikers will build outdoor skills; summit a hill (for the first time); have a break from the daily stresses of life and work; connect with one another; and create a sense of belonging in the outdoors. Rachel, a qualified Mountain Leader, leads and hosts these tailored hikes that include outdoor gear, coaching, nourishing hill-top pies and homemade loaf cake.
Every business that books and pays for a hike for their staff, will in turn make it possible for us to organise a similar experience for people in Scotland who are financially or social excluded.
What’s your personal motivation for being a social entrepreneur?
Working in the Sport for Development sector for the past 7 years I have learnt a lot about the potential sport can do for individuals and society, but also how unequal our society is. I love mountain sports and realised that the Scottish hills are infamous worldwide, yet often very exclusive – they should be somewhere that everyone feels they can belong. Through Mhor Outdoor, I want to build a programme that is sustainable – financially, and in its social impact.
What exciting things do you have coming up?
As soon as it is safe to do so, and outdoor physical activity is permitted – Mhor Outdoor will be ready to help teams and groups re-connect post-lockdown in the safest and most positive way possible – through a team hike in the hills.
Photo credit: Najma Hussein Abukar
Who do you want to work with more?
I would like to see more businesses with office-based teams engage with Mhor Outdoor to offer an activity that will help promote physical health, wellbeing and connection among their staff.
What’s your biggest challenge?
Capturing and explaining just how much physical activity outdoors can do for us. I would love to see outdoor lifestyles and valuing our outside spaces become mainstream in Scottish culture.
What top tips would you give to other social enterprises?
Acknowledge what you’re good at and employ others to do the jobs you can’t. I’m still learning this and have been slowed down by my need to learn to do everything myself – or indeed, not do it.
