Introducing: Phyllis Downes, Walk Ambassador

This is Phyllis Downes, volunteer extraordinaire for Get Walking Keep Walking – Birmingham. Phyllis is an active 71year old who has lived in Birmingham for 53 years. Born in Dublin and then raised just on the outskirts of Belfast in a rural setting, Phyllis has walked all her life and loves it. Despite an ongoing problem with arthritis the last 10 years, Phyllis continues to stay active. She believes that joining the Get Walking Birmingham team has opened up a whole new world to her. Having enjoyed our programme of walks in the local area and the social side of it as well, Phyllis and good friend Pat Heatherington were both keen to join up as volunteer walk Ambassadors and Walk Leaders. They completed an application form, came on some training and were ready to start supporting the project. Phyllis feels that it has had a very positive impact on her life and her natural affinity with people means she is loved wherever she goes,  but in particular, she has shown a great talent for building rapport with young people and this has been a real pleasure for her.

“Volunteering has meant I now meet lots of new people from a whole range of ages and backgrounds. It has been particularly good to meet and work with the young people from the schools and colleges we’ve been to. It can be challenging but it’s equally enjoyable keeping up with, and sometimes outstepping the young college students. Boy, that makes them speed up when they see me ahead of them!”

Phyllis also helps out with some of the events and stalls that the project runs or attends and has been a great motivator to people that maybe need just a little encouragement to walk more for a healthier lifestyle.

“I’ve really loved going along to events like Middle Earth Weekend and Hall Green Mela where helping out with the Get walking stall has meant a day of fun with a real festive feel to it. I love it!”

Phyllis has also worked with women’s groups in Birmingham, supporting programmes that are women only and this was very rewarding:

“The pleasure on the faces of the young women when they can relax and enjoy a walk and a chat with their friends is really lovely to witness. It’s just a little bit of ‘me’ time for them out of a very busy day”

Phyllis was asked how Get Walking Keep Walking has changed her life.

“I live on my own, with my two cats. I learned about Get walking from my friend Pat. We heard of a programme happening  at the local Selly Oak Library and we decided to go along. Before joining Get Walking I was fairly active and did walk quite a bit. However, being a volunteer on the project  gave me a purpose  to be out and about a lot more. Volunteering has meant that I now meet lots of new people and it gives me a purpose and some structure to my days. Thank you Mohini and Sameena for getting me involved.”

Filed under: Birmingham Blog, Volunteer Blog, Walking ambassadors
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