Andy
Ireland
Walk for Health Co-ordinator
Email: andy.ireland@liverpoolpct.nhs.uk
||| Tel: (0151) 707 1555 x 133
- Sunday:
Central Liverpool - Sefton Park 11.00am - Weekend
walk
-
Monday:
North Liverpool - Stanley Park 1.30pm
- Tuesday:
South Liverpool - Woolton Woods and Camp Hill 1.30pm
- Tuesday:
South Liverpool - Garston evening walk 6.00pm - Evening
walk
-
Wednesday:
North Liverpool - Fazakerley Nature Reserve 10.30am
-
Wednesday:
North Liverpool - Croxteth Park 1.30pm
- Wednesday:
Central Liverpool - Albert Dock 12.00 noon
-
Thursday:
North Liverpool - Croxteth Park 6.00pm - Evening walk
- Thursday:
South Liverpool - Calderstones Park 10.30am
-
Friday:
North Liverpool - Walton Park 1.30pm
-
Friday:
Central Liverpool - Conservation Walk, Liverpool City Centre
11.00am - New walk
- Saturday:
South Liverpool - Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve 10.30am
- Weekend walk
Click
here to
download the latest Walk Programme (592k) covering January
to June 2008.
What
is Walk for Health?
Walk for health Liverpool is a series of short, guided walks in
the parks and open spaces across Liverpool. It is aimed at people
who would like to get started if they haven't been active for
a while or simply want to build up and maintain some form of fitness
levels. Each walk is led by qualified walk leaders, one at the
front and one at the back, so nobody gets left behind and you
walk entirely at your own pace.
All the walks are no longer than two miles in length and last
approximately one hour. They are all free of charge, all you need
to do is turn up about 10 minutes before the walk starts in sensible
footwear and with appropriate clothing as we walk in all weathers!
The walks are for people of all ages, fitness and ability and
there's no problem if you'd like to bring the dog along, just
remember your pooper-scooper!
How
did it start?
A national campaign called 'Walk the Way to Health' was launched
approximately four years ago. It's a Government backed initiative
of the Countryside Agency and British Heart Foundation aimed at
getting one million people active through walking. Nearly three
years ago, North Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) obtained funding
from Walk the Way to Health to pilot the walking scheme. This
programme was very successful and now has four regular weekly
walks in the North based at Walton Park, Croxteth Country Park
and Fazakerley Nature Reserve.
As a result of this initial success, other groups such as HEAL8,
REACT and Sport Action Zone incorporated health walks into their
programmes. Links were also forged with the Liverpool Ranger Service,
Liverpool Ramblers and the Brisk Walkers Association for people
who'd like to do that little bit more.
What's
happening now?
In November 2004 North Liverpool PCT gained more funding from
Walk the Way to Health and Central and South Liverpool PCTs to
appoint a co-ordinator and in January 2005 I came into post to
roll out the programme across the city. As word spreads new groups
and organisations such as SureStart, Active Age, schools, GP surgeries
and medical centres have asked for our help to organise led walks
for their client group.
We try and make each walk as interesting and enjoyable as possible
and, where we can, include a theme such as a nature trail, teddy
bears picnic or pond dipping for the children! We are currently
launching new walks all around Liverpool including Sefton Park,
Calderstones, Princess Park and Speke so there should be one in
your area very soon!
On
every walk, you also have the chance to accumulate stamps towards
a FREE
gym pass! Just ask your Walk Leader for a Passport to the Gym,
get your card stamped after each walk you attend, then when
you have 5
stamps, just send it off to us and we'll rush you a Gym Pass
to use at any Lifestyles Gym in Liverpool!
We have linked in with the Community Food Workers to provide
a 'Walk & Taste' session at Calderstones Park (download
leaflet 364k).
The Team show you practical ways of cooking on a budget and offer
advice
on
healthy eating, diet and nutrition. What's more, you can help
them prepare the food, then you get to eat it after the walk!
All you need do is turn up at 10 o`clock at the Coach House,
Calderstones
Park every Thursday and see how easy it really is!
Why
should I walk?
Walking has been called the perfect exercise. It's free, almost
anyone can do it, you don't need any specialised equipment and
you can do it anywhere! We all need to take at least 30 minutes
of exercise, five days of the week to benefit our health and yet
80% of us don't!
Simply walking for 30 minutes each day can:
* Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis
and some cancers.
* Help reduce stress, high blood pressure and help you sleep better.
* Give you more energy, fitness and stamina.
* Help you loose or maintain weight.
So what are you waiting for?
So
what do I do next?
At the top of the page is a list of our current
walks. Just turn
up 10 minutes before we start and off we go! Don't forget though
-
log on
to
this site regularly as new walks are being added to the programme
all the time.
