An event aimed at getting more people from ethnic minorities taking part in outdoor pursuits is to be held in Haworth.

The weekend event – from March 28 to 30 – is being staged at the village’s youth hostel by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and will include a mixture of practical sessions, outdoor instruction and speakers.

Those addressing participants will include GB junior climbing team captain Molly Thompson-Smith, her father Tony Smith – the Queen’s Park Rangers FC women’s team coach – National Parks volunteer Chamu Kuppuswamy and former BMC vice-president Rehan Siddiqui.

The event comes in the wake of research which shows that ethnic minorities in Britain are less likely to participate in activities like hill walking, climbing and mountaineering than the rest of the population.

Among those backing the initiative is Keighley MP Kris Hopkins, a member of the all-party parliamentary mountaineering group.

He said: “As someone who grabs every opportunity I can to enjoy the wildness of the moors and the beauty of the countryside which surrounds Haworth, I am thrilled to welcome this wonderful event to the area.

“The great outdoors are for everyone and I applaud all efforts to widen participation across the community.

“I hope everyone involved has a weekend to remember and that many new friendships are made.”

Visit thebmc.co.uk/breaking-down-the-barriers or e-mail Suzanne@thebmc.co.uk for further information about the weekend and to book.