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Enhancing Community Wellbeing Through Volunteer-led Walking Programs

Stella Goddard, Natural England’s Healthy Walking Project Manager, highlights the critical role of volunteers in supporting walking schemes. Involving volunteers increases accessibility, enhances sustainability, and builds trust within communities. Volunteers not only champion walking initiatives but also provide guidance, mentorship, and a sense of community to participants. The walks become enjoyable, sociable experiences, fostering a non-threatening environment. With proper training and support, volunteers contribute to a healthier community, making walking a regular and valued activity for everyone.

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Enhancing Community Wellbeing Through Volunteer-led Walking Programs

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  1. People in Public health Stella Goddard, Natural England’s Healthy Walking Project Manager

  2. Volunteers, why do we involve them? • Reach: it increases the number of schemes we can support • Sustainability: schemes can have a longer life with volunteers involved • Influence: target audiences recognize volunteers as being like them and trust them • Logistics: it’s the only realistic way to be able to support so many walks and walkers

  3. Advantages to the Programme • Volunteers can become walking champions • Volunteers can mentor participants • Volunteers can root the scheme in their community • Volunteers make the walks possible • Volunteers make the walks sociable and enjoyable • Volunteers make volunteers feel safe on the walk

  4. Advantages to Participants • Participants have a friend to show them where to walk • The walk will be safe, enjoyable and friendly • The walk will be local, regular and accessible • The walk will be non-threatening • The walk will not feel medicalised • The walk will feel like a social activity • The walk will feel like their walk

  5. Advantages to Walk leaders • It is an opportunity to progress as a walker • It is a way to sustain something they like doing • It is a way to champion something they enjoy • It is a chance to be part of something • It is a way to help their community

  6. Needs of Volunteers • To know what is expected of them • To know who can help them • To know how to do it • To have the equipment to do it • To feel valued • To be protected • To have their costs reimbursed

  7. Support WHI offers volunteers • Walk leader training • Public liability Insurance • Advice • Materials • Networks • Website • E/paper newsletter • Reward events

  8. Numbers involved • 33,900 walk leaders trained • About 2/3 active at any time • 327

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