Walking for Health Bristol

What is Walking for Health Bristol?

'Walking for Health Bristol' is our health walks programme which provides people with the opportunity to take part in short, safe, sociable walks within local communities. It is part of a nationwide scheme to get more people walking. The walks have been developed as part of Walking for Health (WfH) a Natural England initiative.

Walking for Health Bristol have produced a leaflet containing information about walking in Bristol.

Download: Walking for Health Bristol leaflet (pdf, 166 KB)

The benefits of walking

Walking is the most common form of physical activity.

It can be incorporated into everyday life and requires no special equipment or cost.

Just thirty minutes a day of brisk walking can have many health benefits including:

• helping to reduce your risk of heart disease
• helping to control your body weight
• strengthening your bones
• reducing high blood pressure, stress and anxiety
• increasing your overall confidence and wellbeing.

Find out more information about the benefits of walking and the essential evidence being used to strengthen the case for current policies and practice.

What is a health walk?

A health walk is defined as 'a purposeful, brisk walk done on a regular basis' and needs to be for a minimum of thirty minutes to achieve a health benefit. Any walking/activity is better than nothing and for some even 10 minutes is beneficial (and a challenge).

Local walks and walking groups

Organised health walks are a great way to start exercising and stay motivated. You will also meet new people and discover other places to walk in Bristol. All the walks are led by trained leaders from the local community, are free (you may have to pay bus fare and refreshments) and are designed to accommodate people of various abilities, including complete beginners.

To get you started turn up at any of the walks listed in the programmes below:

Walking groups

Download: Bedminster and Southville walks programme (pdf, 99 KB)

Download: Brislington walking group (pdf, 249 KB)

Download: Downs walking programme (pdf, 190 KB) (new)

Download: Happy Hearts walks programme (pdf, 468 KB)

Download: Hartcliffe and Withywood walks programme (pdf, 185 KB)

Download: Hillfields walks programme (pdf, 332 KB)

Download: Knowle West Health Park walks programme (pdf, 272 KB)

Download: Lawrence Weston walking group information (pdf, 61 KB)

Download: Link Age Bedminster and Southville (over 50's) walks programme (pdf, 311 KB)

Download: Lockleaze and Horfield Strollers walks programme (pdf, 143 KB)

Download: St George Strollers walks programme (pdf, 0.6 MB)

Download: St Pauls and Easton Walks programme (pdf, 445 KB) 

Weekly walks

Download: Bigger women weekly stroll (pdf, 481 KB)

Download: Easton weekly walk (pdf, 94 KB)

Download: Greville Smyth weekly walks (pdf, 0.6 MB)

Download: Hillfields weekly stroll in the park (pdf, 4.6 MB)

Download: Henbury weekly walks (pdf, 187 KB)

Download: Lockleaze Wednesday walk (pdf, 111 KB)

Download: Carers walk (pdf, 402 KB) (East Bristol - Oldbury Court)

Download: Redcatch trail walks (pdf, 3.6 MB)

Download: Southmead weekly walks (pdf, 379 KB)

Download: Victoria Park weekly walk (pdf, 0.6 MB)

Download: Weekly city centre lunchtime stroll (pdf, 140 KB) - gentle

Download: Weekly city centre lunchtime walk (pdf, 221 KB) - brisk

Download: Walks for Women (St Pauls) (pdf, 127 KB)

Download: Westbury weekly walks (pdf, 182 KB)

Download: Link Age over 50's (Whitchurch) - Briory Leaze weekly walk (pdf, 1.3 MB)

Download: Link Age over 50's (Whitchurch) - Railway Path weekly walk (pdf, 1.4 MB)

Walk group leader contacts - to find out your nearest walks group download the contacts list below.

Download: Walking group contacts list (pdf, 51 KB)

Outdoor health questionnaire

Before your first walk you will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire so turn up five minutes early and introduce yourself to the walk leader. Alternatively you can print off and fill in the questionnaire below and bring it along to your first walk.

Download: outdoor health questionnaire (pdf, 109 KB)

As part of our aim to make health walks accessible to as many people as possible, the outdoor health questionnaire is available in 13 languages. These include Tamil, Somali, Gujarati and Polish. Copies of each can be downloaded from the WfH website.

Health walk frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Please download the FAQ information sheet below for more information on the walks.

Download: Walking for Health FAQs (pdf, 23 KB)

Walk leader training

Anyone that has an interest in walking and wishes to lead walks within the local community, then this free of charge training is just what you're looking for.

Walk leader training takes place three times a year - to register your interest please contact Nicola Ferris on 0117 352 1283 or 07810 506 738.

If you are already a walk leader, why not visit our 'walk leader resource area'.

How do I set up a new walking group?

If you are interested in setting up a new walking group in your area please contact Sian Davies on 0117 352 1199 or 07810 506 736. We would be particularly pleased to hear from you if you are a community organisation or health body who would like to promote health within your community.

Walk 4 Life

Walk 4 Life – the easiest way to get up and about.

Change 4 Life is here to help us all, but especially our kids, eat well, move more and live longer. And a great way to keep active and stay healthy is walking.

Walk 4 Life is jam-packed with tips and games that make walking fun for everyone. It doesn’t matter if it’s an everyday journey or going out to see new places, walking is the easiest way to get up and about.

See below for ideas to help your family start walking.

Download: Tips to get walking everyday (pdf, 0.9 MB)
Download: Fun games for everyday walking (pdf, 0.6 MB)
Download: Fun walking games for parks and woodlands (pdf, 2.8 MB)

Bulletin

Walking for Health Bristol produce a quarterly newsletter with all the latest news and information about Bristol walking groups. Download the latest walk bulletins below:

Download: Autumn bulletin 2011 (pdf, 154 KB)
Download: Winter bulletin 2011/2012 (pdf, 0.8 MB)

Volunteering

We are continually looking to expand this walking programme and are looking for volunteers to lead new health walks across the city. So, if you enjoy walking and meeting people and have a little spare time why not think about being trained as a volunteer walk leader.

Through volunteering with Walking for Health Bristol you can:

• Explore your local parks and green spaces
• Learn new skills and have new experiences
• Share your skills and experience with others

What opportunities are available?

There are a number of volunteering opportunities available. Time commitment is flexible and training and support are provided dependant on your role. See below for details:

• Download: Assistant walk leader and walk supporter task description (pdf, 225 KB)
• Download: Walk leader task description (pdf, 218 KB)
• Download: Mini bus driver task description (pdf, 227 KB)
• Download: Publicity officer task description (pdf, 210 KB)
• Download: Route explorer task description (pdf, 224 KB)

How do I become a volunteer?

• Find out which is you're nearest health walk group - download: walking group information and contacts (pdf, 51 KB)
• Get in touch with the main walking group contact to see when you can go along to the next walk and let them know you are thinking of volunteering. If you enjoy the walk and would like to get involved the walk leader can take you through the application process - download: application form (pdf, 207 KB)

If you already walk with an affiliated Bristol walking group think about what volunteering you would like to do and discuss it with your walk leader.

If you would like to discuss volunteering with Walking for Health Bristol, please contact Nicola Ferris on 07810 506 738 or email healthwalks@bristol.gov.uk.

Walk leader resource area

Whether you are an existing leader or considering becoming one, this section of the website is here to provide you with information.

When you become a walk leader you will need the following forms and information with you when you take a group out:

• Download: outdoor health questionnaire (pdf, 109 KB)
  Outdoor health questionnaire to be filled out by each new walker when they join and to be updated as individuals health circumstances change. The outdoor health questionnaire is also available in 13 languages. These include Tamil, Somali, Gujarati and Polish. Copies of each can be downloaded from the WfH website
• Download: health walk register (pdf, 29 KB)
  Use the health walk register at the start of each walk to record the participants on your walk and give a copy to your walking group organiser.
• Download: route planner form (pdf, 79 KB)
  Route planner form to record information about new routes: walk level/terrain/accessibility.
• Download: risk assessment form (pdf, 223 KB)
  Risk assessment form to record hazards, potential accidents, health risks etc.
• Download: walk leader checklist (pdf, 242 KB)
  Please download the walk leader checklist for a simple to follow guide on what should be carried out and when before and during leading a walk.

Policies and guidance

• Download: code of conduct (pdf, 24 KB)
  Code of conduct (for all participants and organisers). Walk leaders should give a copy of this code to each new walker.
• Download: confidentiality policy (pdf, 81 KB)
  Confidentiality guidance and information for the Walking for Health project
• Download: health and safety guidelines (pdf, 39 KB)
  Health and safety information for walk leaders and volunteers