The Ramblers has today cautiously welcomed government plans to give walking a key place in its Be Active Be Healthy strategy, but warned ministers that the funding is still a drop in the ocean given the vast cost of inactivity to the nation.
The national walking charity welcomes the announcement of funding for Active Challenge walking routes, the expansion of health walk schemes and support for better access to the coast but it warns the £4 million of funding announced so far is gravely inadequate.
Tom Franklin, chief executive, the Ramblers said: “The Government’s commitment to walking and other physical activity is a step in the right direction but it’s still not enough. The plan puts the cost of inactivity to each Primary Care Trust (PCT) at £5 million a year. But the funding announced today to try to undo some of that damage only amounts to £26,300 for each of England’s 152 PCTs."
The Ramblers also welcomes support for a new Physical Activity Alliance bringing in the voluntary sector.
Tom Franklin adds: “The Government must entrust service delivery to the voluntary sector and partner organisations that have the grass roots contacts, skills and experience to make it happen. The Ramblers’ Get Walking Keep Walking programme works through community based partnerships. Over half the participants are from traditionally hard to reach minority ethnic groups – this is a nine fold increase on the 6% ethnic minority make-up of Britain’s average walking population.”
He concluded: “Our message is clear; if the Government want to get active on physical action, they must foster relationships with expert partner organisations and support on the ground delivery”.
