South Northants Health Walks

Health walks in South Northants aim to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those who are sedentary, take little exercise or live in areas of poor health. A health walk is a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis. We provide led walks, where two trained volunteer walk leaders guide each walk, and a set of maps so people can undertake independent walks.

Soon after starting in post, I met with Sarah Evans, Health Promotion, from Daventry & South Northants PCT to discuss how we could increase physical activity levels. We decided to concentrate on health walks because the national 'Walking for Health Initiative' (WHI) would support us, setting up the health walks would be cheap and it is something that most people can do.

Health walks in South Northamptonshire are part of the WHI, which is an initiative of the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency. Local partners involved include the local PCT's, Towcester Town Council, Age Concern, the Forestry Commission, the Rotary Club of Towcester and the Regional Case Officer for WHI. I am the co-ordinator for the walks and I am also a cascade trainer, which means I can train the volunteer walk leaders.

We have obtained funding from Awards for All and the Rotary Club of Towcester to pay for training, equipment and the printing of the set of maps. In June 2005, we were accredited the Two Heart Award quality mark by the WHI.

Currently, the led walks programme is:

  • Brackley: Every Wednesday starting at 10am. Meet outside the Town Hall.
  • Towcester: Every Friday starting at 10am. Meet outside Waitrose.

Every Sunday starting at 10.30am. Meet outside Waitrose.

  • Grange Park: Every Friday starting at 9.30am. Meet at the Community Centre.
  • Kings Sutton: Every Friday starting at 10am. Meet at the Millennium Hall.

In July, there will be led walks starting in Greatworth and Kings Sutton. There were about 2100 walkers in 2005 and in 2006 so far there has been about 1000 walkers. Most of the walkers are female and aged over 50. We have approximately 30 trained walk leaders who are still active.

For more information please contact Colin Hull at South Northamptonshire Council: colin.hull@southnorthants.gov.uk