Leading the way on health walks

TEN newly qualified volunteers are taking to the streets, slopes and hills of South Somerset thanks to a free health walk leader training course.

The Health Walk Leader training workshop, which was run by South Somerset District Council, gave volunteers the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to lead a health walk in their own community.

Health walks are becoming increasingly popular and the programme in South Somerset is accredited as part of the Ramblers - formerly Natural England - initiative.

Charlie Coward, healthy lifestyles officer at South Somerset District Council, said: “The workshop taught participants how to plan a route, assess risk, report accidents and learn about the benefits and barriers to exercise.

“Following the workshop the newly qualified leaders will be out leading health walks in communities right across South Somerset.

“One of the new leaders is Martyn Powell who will be leading weekly walks from Day Lewis Pharmacy on Abbey Manor in Yeovil.  These walks will link with the Pharmacies’ on-going weight loss support programme for patients.”

PHOTO – TOP: Group photo shows the volunteers with healthy lifestyles officers Charlie Coward (far left) and Sam Wenden-de-Lira (far right).

PHOTO – RIGHT: The walkers set off led by healthy lifestyles officer Charlie Coward.

Other newly qualified walk leaders include Annette Yoosefinejad, who will be leading weekly beginners walks from the Balsam Centre in Wincanton and Elaine Major, who is going to lead fortnightly walks from The Angel Café in Langport as part of South Somerset Mind’s outreach support programme.

Lufton College in Yeovil will also benefit from the course with Debbie Morgan and Lynn Kelly set to lead a weekly health walks group for their students.

Debbie said: "The training was both informative and enjoyable.  Being a health walk leader will enable us to set up our own groups within the college.

“Students who have participated in the College's walks will then be able to transfer the skills they have learnt to a health walk group in their local community when they leave college.”

The council’s leisure and culture spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, said: “Our walks in South Somerset are sustainable and enable people to explore their local countryside whilst becoming more active and sociable in a safe environment.”

To find out more about health walks in South Somerset visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/healthwalks or to find out about the next Health Walk Leader training course contact Charlie Coward on 01935 462347.

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