The project presented their volunteers with Paths for All’s gold, silver and bronze certificates and accompanying gifts to acknowledge their dedication towards helping others benefit from everyday walking.
Cathy Scott, Walk in the Park Project Coordinator praised her volunteers enthusiastically:
Well done and thank you for ensuring the walks in Callander, Killin, Aberfoyle, Balloch, Drymen and Arrochar go ahead every week and that walkers feel safe and supported.
Many thanks also to Paths for All for their support and encouragement and for the gifts.
One of the many outstanding leaders with Walk in the Park is Judith Shaw. Read about some of the extra activities she undertakes to support walkers in her Drymen walking group here.
Walk Leaders are essential to a successful Health Walk. They provide a friendly welcome at the start to reassure people that they will be looked after. During the risk assessed short walk they keep walkers safe and comfortable. At the end of the walk there is time for refreshments and social opportunities. Find out more about a Health Walk and the role of Volunteer Walk Leaders by watching our video.
The opportunity to walk and talk is one of the enduring strengths of walking groups to increase physical activity. People make connections by learning about what is happening in other people’s lives and in their local communities too. This ability to make people feel connected to where they live and to people is a key reason walkers’ return week after week. The Volunteer Walker Leader helps people to develop these social connections. A recent review on the value of social connections for people living with dementia, who attend our Dementia Friendly Health Walks, highlighted the benefits of these social connections. Read more here.
There are hundreds of Health Walks taking place across Scotland that are fun, accessible and free all as a result of dedicated volunteers. Find your nearest Health Walk on our map.
All Walking for Health volunteers receive our Paths for All Walk Leader training to give them the skills and confidence to lead walks in their community.
With over 100 Walking for Health projects managing Health Walks across Scotland, there are lots of volunteering opportunities to take advantage of. If you're interested in becoming a Volunteer Walk Leader, get in touch with your local project today.
A recent report by Volunteer Scotland highlights the positive impact volunteering has on improving health and wellbeing. We agree with this also and are committed to working with and supporting volunteers.
Volunteer Awards 2020
Every year we celebrate the outstanding work of volunteers who help us to increase the number of people who are physically active in Scotland through walking and active travel activities. You can read about our 2019 winners and their activities in the winter edition of our newsletter on pages 9-15.
Our 2020 Volunteer Awards will be held on Tuesday 8th September at the Scottish Parliament. The event is sponsored by Alison Johnstone MSP and hosted by broadcaster Fiona Stalker. Entries will open during Volunteer’s Week 1-7 June and close by 26 July.
All nominees will be invited to our Scottish Parliament event and receive a certificate of appreciation.