The Ramblers welcome the Health Secretary’s announcement of Government plans to get more people engaged in physical activity through calling on the NHS to make the promotion of active lifestyles “core business and not a peripheral concern”.
Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, wants to ensure that over the next decade the UK moves from being 21st in Europe to 4th as far as physical activity goes. His initiative, linked to the Government’s Olympic legacy ambitions, is heartening to the Ramblers. In his policy speech, Burnham identified walking as being a key cornerstone in his strategy.
Keith Roberts, Ramblers Director of Campaigns and Policy, comments: “We believe that we have a major part to play in the walking dimension of Andy Burnham’s ambitions. Walking is free, lifestyle-friendly, and accessible to all. We are already delivering walks to a wide range of people and communities through our innovative and diverse walking programmes. Our programmes, have already interested the Department for Health and we want to be able to deliver even more.
These include:
• our Get Walking Keep Walking Programme, funded by the BIG lottery fund in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Manchester
• our exciting Department of Health funded pilot: Furness Families Walk 4 Life
• our national Led Walks programme that delivers over 500 walks each week
Kieth Roberts: "The Health Secretary’s vision and ambition is to be applauded. Inevitably there will be challenges along the way. The Ramblers are keen to contribute to the challenging work of making the vision a living reality. "
