Kabeer’s Story

As a teenager in urban Bradford, Kabeer Bostan first discovered the Dales on a muddy but exhilarating school trip to Yorkshire’s Three Peaks.

Now, as Mosaic Project Officer for the four northern National Parks, he works with staff from the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Lake District and Northumberland National Park Authorities to improve understanding amongst black and minority ethnic communities.

“The best bit of my job is getting to visit the National Parks on my doorstep, finding out how they work and the things they do”, he says.

“I also see the best countryside - it’s a great job even if travelling between them is exhausting!”

Kabeer was born in Bradford in 1980 into what he describes as a working class family. His father worked in the textile industry and his mum looked after the family. When the industry went into decline, his father was laid off, and, as a manual labourer with little English and no qualifications, he found it hard to get work.

This experience made his parents determined that their children should get a good education so that they could make the most of their opportunities.

Undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge with Grange Upper School was Kabeer’s first real taste of the English countryside.

“Although I came home tired and muddy from getting partially stuck in a bog, I felt great, sharing stories of the scramble up one of the summits, the pouring rain and the sense of achievement in walking 24 miles in one day.”

At Bradford University studying chemistry, he volunteered with Youthbank, a project supporting youth-led action.

“I met a young Asian woman employed by Bradford Youth Service who was looking for young people interested in the outdoors and active in their community. I thought ‘great, a chance to get back into the countryside’”.

Kabeer had to do a minimum of forty hill walks towards a Walking Group Leader qualification, and the group began hiking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to get experience of different terrain.

“Funny story must be walking through a huge field with nothing as far as the eye can see except a single signpost - which my friend managed to walk into!”

In the last year, morale was running low - only four of the original 10 completed the qualification - so Kabeer decided to look for others trying to get BME communities into the outdoors.

He came across the Mosaic project on the internet and became a Community Champion for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Since then, he has been interviewed by Radio 4 and approached by the British Mountaineering Council to join their Equality Committee and help them be more inclusive to under-represented groups - as well as appearing on national television in full walking gear.

Kabeer says: “I’d encourage anyone interested in the outdoors to go on the National Park websites for ideas of what to do and places to visit. And if you prefer talking to a person, then the National Park Centres are excellent and really friendly when providing ideas.”

“I’d also recommend getting a hill walking book that teaches some of the basics of navigation so that you can go out there and explore the great outdoors yourself!”

If you are a community group and would like to find out more about enjoying the National Park, we can help with advice and information and may be able to provide a walk leader. Contact catherine.kemp@yorkshiredales.org.uk or call Catherine on 01756 751623. Try one of our family-friendly, drop-in events as a taster - check the events listing for details. 

Location: Yorkshire Dales
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