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 (GWKW) 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.
Photo: Sheffield Get Walking, Keep Walking, with the Sheffield Ramblers' Terry Howard
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!
If you would like to know more about becoming a Ramblers Get Walking Keep Walking volunteer, click here.
