Photo: Caroline Watson
Get Walking Keep Walking is a project that helps people in big cities do more regular local walking to improve their health and well-being. The project provides free locally based 12-week walking programmes combining information and motivation with led walks and other activities. It's also possible to obtain a free DIY pack and follow the 12-week walking plan by yourself.
The project is aimed at people from deprived urban areas who aren’t already active enough for good health. It aims to encourage regular independent walking close to home as part of everyday life – not only health and leisure walks but everyday trips on foot, such as to the shops, school or work. It encourages walking for mental well-being as well as physical health.
Activities are run by volunteers as well as staff, including volunteer walking ambassadors – keen walkers who already know the local area. Volunteers are also involved in finding attractive walking routes around the local area, using quiet streets, footpaths, parks and green spaces. These routes are used on led walks and will be publicised more widely so everyone can enjoy them.
Many local programmes are open to everyone and are based at leisure and community centres and other venues. Some are based at community groups and projects: for example Sure Starts and Children’s Centres, centres for the elderly, community centres, health projects, black and ethnic minority groups.Some are based with the local NHS, in GP practices, health centres and at Mental Health Trusts and projects.
All walks are short (usually an hour or less), easy going and taken at an easy pace. They start from and usually return to our local centres.
Does it work?
The results so far are very promising. A preliminary evaluation of the pilots in Birmingham and South London carried out in June 2008 by Professor Jo Doust of the University of Brighton looked at 474 participants on 32 programmes. This found
- 42% were non-white
- 49% under 55
- 90% said they walked more as a result of the programme
- 89% reported benefits to health and well-being
- 99.7% rated the programme as good or very good
The ethnic diversity and age range of participants were particularly remarkable as many walking and exercise promotion programmes have difficulties in attracting participants from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and those in younger age groups.
Full and detailed evaluations of the wider project are ongoing.
Why is it needed?
Most people in England don’t get enough exercise. The Chief Medical Officer recommends at least 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise five days a week for adults, an hour every day for children. But only a third of women and a quarter of men achieve this. A third of children are not active enough for good health.
Lack of exercise is linked to many illnesses and conditions, including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, obesity, the most common type of diabetes and many cancers. The government estimates the cost to the nation of low physical activity levels at £10.9bn.
Walking is a natural moderate exercise that can help you stay healthy and live longer. It’s also a great way to relieve stress and stay happy. Being outdoors, especially in green spaces, can help fight depression and improve mental health.
It’s also the easiest exercise to fit into everyday life. Almost everyone can do it, anywhere and at any time, for free. You don’t need special clothing, equipment or training, there are no gym memberships to pay, and it’s so easy and natural there’s very little risk you’ll injure yourself.
While walking you can be getting to shops, school or work, spending time with others, exploring your local area or just taking time to relax by yourself. And walking is also the most environmentally friendly way of getting about as it doesn’t cause pollution or congestion.
Who is it for?
Get Walking Keep Walking is targeted
- at inactive people
- at deprived areas
- at people from black and minority ethnic communities
- at families with young children
- at people with mental health problems.
The level of physical activity among poorer people and those from black and ethnic minority communities is lower than average and they have often been missed by previous projects to promote walking.
Our experience and research shows that these groups are keen to do more exercise and already attracted by walking as the cheapest, easiest and most convenient option, provided that materials and activities are carefully tailored to their needs.
When and where?
Currently Get Walking Keep Walking covers the following urban areas of England:
- Birmingham. We launched a full scale pilot, mainly working in South Birmingham, in July 2007. Thanks to funding, this project is continuing and expanding to other parts of Birmingham.
- London. We piloted the scheme in South London in 2006 and 2007. In January 2008, full-scale projects launched in South London (boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark) and East London (Hackney and Tower Hamlets).
- Manchester. Our project in Manchester launched in April 2008.
- Sheffield. Our project in Sheffield launched in April 2008.
DIY packs enabling participants to follow the 12-week walking plan without attending a programme will shortly be available outside these areas.
Who is funding and delivering it?
The Ramblers’ Association, Britain's biggest walking charity, is delivering Get Walking Keep Walking as part of a Consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations being funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme which provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling, the Campaign for Better Transport, CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers’ Association and Walk 21. It is delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable 2million people to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives. Read more about the funding.
The project is also supported by local authorities, NHS trusts and the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust.
Get Walking Keep Walking is developed and delivered in partnership with local authorities, NHS trusts and a host of local and community organisations and projects. Successful partnership working is vital to our success and we are keen to work with a wide range of local organisations that share our aim to promote health and well-being through everyday exercise to the people who will benefit most.
The Ramblers' Association is most often associated with countryside leisure walking, but we are committed to promoting walking for well-being to everyone as a key charitable aim, including local, everyday walking in towns and cities.Among other successes, the Association originated Britain’s first major health walks project (Lonc a Chlonc in Wales in the 1990s), was instrumental in founding the London Walking Forum which pioneered promoting modern urban walking, hosts Britain’s leading walking website and runs almost 30,000 led walks a year. We are committed to the principals of volunteering and have long experience in involving and supporting volunteers.
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