“I am pleased and proud to be a Get Walking Volunteer”

Link to article

In the summer of 2008, I received a letter from the Ramblers asking if I was interested in becoming a volunteer for Get Walking Keep Walking in Manchester. I found out some more about it and decided that it would be a worthwhile thing to do and as I was recently retired, I had some time to devote to it.

After receiving my initial training I became first a route-developer and then an ambassador, accompanying groups on their walks. I now undertake both roles. The groups are very varied in nature including young mums with toddlers, the elderly Chinese community and people with social problems. The common thing with them all is their enthusiasm and it is encouraging to hear their individual testimonies about the benefits the GWKW programme has brought them.

Both route-developing and walking with the groups has had an unexpected benefit for me personally: although I was born and grew up only three miles from the centre of Manchester, through GWKW I have visited places I had not been to before and I have discovered places I did not even know existed. Perhaps my favourite walks have been those in the city centre because, despite a love of countryside and mountains, both me and my wife Prue like visiting and exploring cities, although these have been cities such as London, York, Rome, etc, and ignoring what great interest, history and architecture is on our doorstep.

I have also benefitted from my involvement with GWKW from courses such as walk leadership and first aid and from making new and interesting friends. There is a great social aspect to GWKW as well, with the occasional night out and I have had the honour of organising and leading on two social walks for the volunteers, one over Shutlingsloe and one around Edale.
I am pleased and proud to be a GWKW volunteer, benefitting both the community and myself and I can honestly say that I have done that and got the T-shirt!

Posted: Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 11:56 am, filed under Case Studies, Manchester Success Stories, Volunteer News.
Tagged:: .
Comments: You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No comments

Nobody has posted a comment yet, why not be the first?

Leave a comment

Apply for your Get Walking pack

The Get Walking pack contains a 12-week walking plan, logbook and free step counter. Register today to receive your pack so you too can Get Walking in your local area and start improving your health!

Join a local walking programme

Free programmes of short led walks designed specifically for beginners. Available in Birmingham, East London, Manchester, Sheffield and South London.

Join a local walking programme

Become a walking volunteer

Already a regular walker? Help us to share the benefits of walking with your community by becoming a walking volunteer. Full training provided, and you can pick a role to suit you!

Become a walking volunteer

Become a partner

Are you based in South London, Sheffield, Manchester, East London or Birmingham? Work with us to help get your community organisation, health group or business walking.

Become a partner

Get in touch

Click here to find contact details for all our project offices in Birmingham, East London, Manchester, Sheffield, South London and the rest of England. We'd love to hear from you!

Get in touch
Get Walking Keep Walking is a Ramblers project funded by the Big Lottery Fund through the Active Travel Consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations, and supported by councils, NHS trusts and the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. Copyright © 2009 Get Walking Keep Walking. All Rights Reserved.