The group has over 20 weekly walkers due to the friendly reputation of the Health Walk leaders and is viewed as an important social health group for many residents.
One walker who enjoys the weekly walk reports:
I now feel fitter and can walk longer without the need to take a break. This is helping to control my type 2 diabetes. It also gets me out of the house and making friends.
The Volunteer Walk Leaders are extremely well organised and plan local walks and away days to provide interest and variety in their walking programme. The volunteers always attend any training or Walk Leader meetings to ensure they are up to speed with any new developments.
They willingly share their ideas such as laminated maps to clearly show the routes they will be walking. Their slower group members have a positive nickname of the "front runners!". They have created a photo album to share events and people from over the years which is useful for reminiscence activities.
All the leaders are Dementia Friendly Walking trained and enjoy attending other walking events such as the Big Stride or Alzheimer walk. Even having different abilities of walkers is no problem to accommodate as they adapt routes and walks to suit everyone.
They recently hosted their Big Fit Walk, known as the Big Stride, in June with 14 different Stride for Life Health Walk groups from across Perth and Kinross attending with a record 77 walkers. A warm welcome was provided to everyone with a poster of the leaders outside the hall, an official photographer and three interesting and safe walks planned to suit all levels of ability and showcase the village of Alyth.
They really are a team who are committed to supporting Paths for All’s vision of a happier, healthier Scotland.
Find out about Health Walks in Perth and Kinross on our website.
Stride for Life are a Scottish Health Walk Network member.