Join the Ramblers for a “Walk in the Park”

On Sunday 23rd January the Ramblers will be launching “A Walk in the Park”; a progamme of short health walks in London’s Royal Parks, funded by the Royal Parks and Natural England. The launch, which will take place at from 12pm at Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park, London, will include a short walk and will be attended by Ramblers Chief Executive Tom Franklin.

The “A Walk in the Park” programme will be run by the Ramblers, working in partnership with the Rain Trust and using Walking for Health’s tools and processes, will deliver recruit, train and support 28 volunteers to establish and deliver a programme of 10 walks each week in some of London’s most iconic green spaces.

There is a growing body of evidence, including from the Get Walking Keep Walking projects, which demonstrates the value of taking part in walking every day – both for physical and mental well-being. Walking can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, help to control weight and even elevate your mood!

This project will merge the Ramblers experience of delivering outreach programmes with the principles of Walking for Health to encourage various communities living near the Royal Parks to make the most of the fantastic opportunities that are on their doorsteps.

Tom Franklin, Chief Executive of the Ramblers, said:
“The landscape of physical activity provision is changing. At a time of economic hardship, local authorities are receiving increasing responsibility for public health whilst being faced with the challenge of how to get the best return from limited resources.

“For decades the Ramblers has been helping people to help themselves, by offering more than 28,000 volunteer led walks through our extensive Group structure across Great Britain. Over the last four years the Ramblers has complemented this ‘nudging’ with dedicated outreach programmes involving 12,000 people in Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Manchester. The innovative model, developed by the Ramblers, called Get Walking Keep Walking, has recently been recognised by the World Health Organisation as a leading example of physical activity promotion to socially disadvantaged groups.

“Many Ramblers Groups already work closely with their local Walking for Health schemes. With the launch of A Walk in the Park we are delighted to further strengthen that relationship and add Walking for Health to the Ramblers portfolio of delivery. We would like to thank Natural England and the Royal Parks for having the vision to involve the Ramblers more closely with Walking for Health.

“In London the Ramblers is now delivering; targeted outreach work through Get Walking Keep Walking; short health walks through ‘A Walk in the Park’; and longer Group walks, including through the London Strollers, a brand new Group specialising in easy and accessible walks. We believe it is an example of the kind of co-ordination – for volunteers, participants and would-be participants – that is possible more widely in the future.”

ENDS
1 Rain Trust is a voluntary organisation that provides services and education to individuals living primarily in London. It offers assistance and support to those suffering long-term conditions, including those living with, affected by and at risk from HIV.
2 Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment: The national survey on people and the natural environment, Annual Report from the 2009-10 survey, Natural England (2010).

Filed under: Featured News, London Walking Programmes, News
Tagged: Led Walks, London, Urban Walk, walk, Walking
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