Tommy Clarke and Bill Gardiner are the dedicated volunteers behind the Health Walks delivered by the group. In 2020, Tommy Clarke who is a resident of Glasgow, won our Health Walk Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of his work to tackle loneliness and isolation among the LGBTQIA+ community. His achievements involved providing opportunities to improve physical and mental health through walking with OUT on Sundays. Joining fellow LEAP Sports Scotland volunteer Bill, OUT on Sundays – which began in 2018 - deliver a wide range of weekly Health Walks for people in local communities across Glasgow.
The visibility, inclusion and a positive community is important to Tommy and Bill. OUT on Sundays is described as a gay-led walking group, welcoming members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those of the local community who are open and friendly. Tommy describes how unlikely connections and friendships easily blossom, particularly between participants from different generations and walks of life.
When asked about the OUT on Sundays logo, Tommy says,
The rainbow is for everyone. It’s an internationally recognised sign that everyone is welcome. The walks welcome people who sometimes can’t be themselves in other spaces, or with other people. We encourage walks to be safe and welcoming so people can be themselves, authentically.
It’s about bringing people together in a safe space. You see it from time to time… two people who wouldn’t normally have met bond over a common interest.
The walk itself provides a chance for those joining the walk to meet new people. Our walks offer one space to chat. The chance to go to a coffee shop and chat further offers a different space to connect and continue the conversation, depending on the vibe.
Along with fellow Walk Leader Bill, Tommy delivers deliver a range of themed walks covering topics such as mindfulness, photography and street art, owed to Glasgow’s creative personality. Walks are often centred around a cause such as litter picking, helping to give back to the local community, and keep local walking routes clean and safe for others.
Notably, Tommy has also delivered a dedicated Health Walk on Christmas Day for the last five years, which has welcomed those who need a safe, supportive and social space.
Tommy said,
Christmas Day can be difficult for many people, simply because they are lonely, and have no one, or they have family and can’t be who they are, or they just need to escape the typical festivities.
Greenspaces, especially in urban areas such as Glasgow such as the Hamiltonhill Claypits nature reserve, are vital for offering connection to the natural environment. Those who are inactive, living with a long-term health condition or recovering from ill-health might be unable to travel great distances. But OUT on Sundays Health Walks offer an invaluable opportunity for participants to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of being in nature. Walks begin and end in a variety of locations across the city, varying in length and can often be centred around a theme including art and local, cultural history.
Tommy, who is also a support worker, British Sign Language (BSL) tutor and tour guide, has a passion and personal interest in local history, which is reflected in his many Rennie Mackintosh inspired tattoos. Tommy regularly delivers local history walks which connect participants with cultural and social heritage and was involved in the design of one of Glasgow’s many murals. Walks are tailored to the needs and asks of participants, centred around routes which link locations across the city and add an element of fun and surprise with the use of walking quizzes and games.
Health Walks, such as those delivered by OUT on Sundays are vital safe and accessible opportunities for people to walk or wheel, and enjoy the positive benefits to physical health, and mental wellbeing. To some, participating in physical activity supports social inclusion, cultivating identity and making friends.
Find out more about volunteering and how to start your own journey here.
You can learn more about OUT on Sundays here.
If you are interested in learning more about joining a Health Walk, click here. Alternatively, if you want to explore or discuss setting up a dedicated Health Walk, or contact SHWN@pathsforall.org.uk.